West Karbi Anglong calm restored after two days violence; Assam CM orders swift action on illegal immigrants

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 24 said the situation in violence-hit West Karbi Anglong has significantly improved, with normal life gradually returning after two days of unrest that claimed two lives.

Speaking to the media, Sarma said both Karbi and non-tribal groups were now engaging in dialogue, while senior government officials remained stationed in the affected areas to monitor the situation. 

He said markets had reopened, people had returned to the streets, and overall conditions were peaceful. “Today’s situation is absolutely normal. People are coming to shops and moving freely. We expect the situation to improve further in the coming days,” he said.

The Chief Minister confirmed that two deaths were reported during the December 23 violence. 

One person died in police firing during clashes between protesters and security forces. The second victim, a physically disabled person, was allegedly trapped inside his house after agitators set fire to homes and shops and was burnt alive. Sarma described the incident as “very pathetic” and said a few others sustained minor injuries.

The unrest erupted amid protests over alleged encroachment on Professional Grazing Reserve and Village Grazing Reserve lands in Karbi Anglong, triggering arson and large-scale disturbances in Kheroni and nearby areas. In response, the administration imposed prohibitory orders, suspended mobile internet services, and deployed additional police and central forces to restore order.

Meanwhile, Sarma said the state government has begun invoking provisions of the Illegal Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, as promised earlier. 

He said deputy commissioners across the state have been instructed to issue immediate expulsion orders against individuals declared foreigners by Foreigners’ Tribunals or those found to be suspicious. “Police or the BSF will take necessary action to send them back to Bangladesh,” the Chief Minister said, adding that he had already spoken in detail on the matter earlier.