Assam on edge: Section 163 imposed in West Karbi Anglong as protest over grazing land turns violent; KAAC chief’s house torched

GUWAHATI: Amid rising tensions in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district, authorities have imposed Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain public order and protect life and property.

A prohibitory order issued by the District Magistrate of Karbi Anglong, Nirola Phangchopi, enforces Section 163 of the BNSS from December 22, 2025, until further notice to prevent "anti-social elements" from causing ethnic or communal disturbances and to protect public life and property.


Under the order, gatherings of five or more people are strictly prohibited. There is a total restriction on the movement of people and private vehicles from 5:00pm to 6:00am. The order also bars rallies, picketing, "Mashal" (torch) processions, or dharnas in public places, as well as carrying firearms or setting off firecrackers. It prohibits any inflammatory or anti-national speeches, posters, or wall writing, and no use of loudspeakers or microphones without prior permission.

Police, military, and officials on duty are exempt from these movement restrictions. People with medical emergencies may move freely. Schools, colleges, universities (for exams), and government or private offices will continue to function as usual.

Assam minister Dr Ranoj Pegu and Assam DGP Harmeet Singh visited the area to assess the situation.

The escalation followed protesters, holding sit-in demonstrations demanding the eviction of illegal encroachers from the Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands, setting the house of the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on fire. The incident took place in Dongkamukam near Kheroni in the West Karbi Anglong district.

Three protesters and a few security personnel were injured following clashes. Protesters pelted stones and attacked security forces, prompting cops to blank fire to control the situation.

A senior police official of West Karbi Anglong said additional security personnel have been deployed to restore order.

Akhilesh Kumar Singh, IGP (Law & Order), told news agency ANI, "We are mobilising extra forces to bring the situation to normalcy. The mob also set ablaze the residence of the CEM of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. Some security personnel got minor injuries, and we are collecting the data."

Reports indicate the situation turned violent after police on Monday morning detained a few protesters, prompting a large crowd to block roads, march towards Dongkamukam, and set ablaze the ancestral residence of KAAC CEM Tuliram Ronghang.

Meanwhile, the mob damaged several houses, a school bus, and other structures in a basti area near Dongkamukam. Senior police officials have rushed to the site.

The protest stems from a long-standing demand to evict settlers from PGR and VGR lands. Although KAAC issued eviction notices in February 2024, a petition in the Gauhati high court has stalled the process, citing concerns over contempt of court.

(With agency inputs)



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