Congress demands CBI probe into alleged illegal mining in Karbi Anglong, accuses Assam CM of complicity

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has issued a strong call for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into large-scale illegal stone mining in the ecologically sensitive Karbi Anglong hills, alleging gross violation of Supreme Court directives and direct political complicity at the highest levels of the state government.

Senior Congress leader Ripun Bora accused the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang, of issuing unauthorized mining licenses in the Parkup Pahar region — part of the buffer zone of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bora further alleged that these violations were carried out with the tacit approval and active support of Assam Chief Minister. Himanta Biswa Sarma, allegedly driven by vested interests in illegal stone and cement operations. He claimed that the CM arbitrarily revoked the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) status for eight critical areas along the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong boundary, enabling unrestricted exploitation of forest land.

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, conducted inspections between December 2024 and May 2025. In its official report, the CEC confirmed that KAAC had defied the apex court’s landmark April 12, 2019 order in the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case, which had explicitly banned all mining and related activities in and around Kaziranga and its river catchments from the Karbi Anglong hills.

According to the CEC, over 10 stone quarries were identified as operational in the prohibited zone, including several near Borjuri Waterfall. The licensees named include:

Bidya Sing Engti (Nopani P.P. Land)

Lip Terang (Langkhang P.P. Land)

Bronson Terang (Nopani P.P. Land)

Raju Engjai (Nopani Checkso Anglong)

Mongal Sing Engti (Langkhang No.2)

Kamal Sing Engjai (Sarthe Killing Gaon)

Jiten Engti (Kaipho Anglong)

Bhupen Killing (Sarthe Killing Gaon)

Despite the Supreme Court ban, KAAC reportedly only suspended licenses temporarily during CEC inspections. Notably, two license holders later petitioned the Gauhati High Court, which allegedly unaware of the Supreme Court’s 2019 ban revoked the suspensions and permitted mining to resume.

Terming this a deliberate circumvention of judicial authority and ecological law, the Congress has demanded a thorough CBI investigation. It is pressing for legal accountability of CEM Tuliram Ronghang and a direct probe into the role of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of enabling systematic ecological destruction.

“This is not just environmental violation; it is a betrayal of public trust and defiance of the judiciary,” the APCC stated.