Assam: ABSU flags deaths, calls for dialogue over Karbi Anglong protests

All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) president Dipen Boro on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the violence reported at Kheroni in Karbi Anglong on December 22 and 23, saying the incident had already claimed two lives and left several security personnel injured.

 

Addressing a press conference at Bodofa House in Kokrajhar, Boro termed the developments “deeply distressing” and extended solidarity to residents of Karbi Anglong. He urged indigenous communities across Assam to remain united to protect their identity and rights.

 

Boro stressed that protest movements must adhere to democratic processes and said the escalation could have been avoided with timely engagement by the authorities. Referring to a 13-day hunger strike over the protection of PGR/VGR land, he said the government failed to respond to the agitation despite its non-violent nature.

 

He alleged that around 3 am on December 22, hunger strikers were taken away citing health concerns, adding that medical care could have been provided at the protest site. According to Boro, this action led to confusion and contributed to the outbreak of violence.

 

Maintaining that the movement was democratic and focused on safeguarding PGR/VGR land, the ABSU president called for immediate dialogue between the administration and the protesters to resolve the issue.

 

Boro also responded to remarks by Hagrama Mohilary on land patta distribution, urging that pattas should not be issued to illegal citizens. He said ABSU has no objection to land titles being granted to indigenous residents.