Diphu erupts in protest against KAAC over tribal land allotment to corporates

Diphu town, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong district, witnessed a massive protest on Wednesday as thousands of people took to the streets against the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), accusing it of handing over tribal land to corporate entities. 

The demonstration, led by All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) President Jones Ingti Kathar, drew widespread participation from local residents and political groups.

The protest march began at Birla and culminated at the office of the Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner, where demonstrators raised strong slogans such as “Tuliram No – Tribal CEM,” “BJP Go Back,” and “Tuliram Go Back.” 

The anger was directed at KAAC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang and the BJP-led council, with protesters alleging that the Sixth Schedule provisions safeguarding tribal rights were being undermined.

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who joined the rally, launched a scathing attack on CEM Tuliram Ronghang. He accused him of colluding with corporate houses and betraying the interests of the tribal and indigenous communities of Karbi Anglong. 

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“While Tuliram builds a lavish house worth two hundred crores, the tribal people of the hills are still forced to live in katcha houses,” Gogoi alleged. He further claimed that thousands of bighas of land protected under the Sixth Schedule were being allotted to corporate entities, jeopardising the cultural and economic identity of the hill communities.

Gogoi also criticised the BJP for failing to keep its election promise of fully implementing the Sixth Schedule in the district. He warned that corporate encroachment into tribal lands would not be tolerated and vowed continued resistance.

The protest highlighted mounting discontent among local communities, who demand strict protection of their constitutional rights and an immediate halt to land transfers in favour of corporate groups. 

Both the APHLC and the AJP signalled a unified front in defending Karbi Anglong’s tribal autonomy, setting the stage for further confrontations with the KAAC leadership if their demands are not addressed.