Guwahati: At least 173 security personnel of the Assam Police and the CRPF were injured during violence that erupted earlier this week in West Karbi Anglong district, in which two civilians lost their lives, police said on Saturday.
According to the Assam Police, the injuries were sustained during incidents reported on December 22 and 23 under the Kheroni police station area.
Of the injured personnel, 139 were given first aid at the site, while 33 had to be shifted to various hospitals for treatment.
Police said the situation in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts was gradually returning to normal, with no fresh incidents reported.
However, a strict security vigil remains in place, with prohibitory orders enforced and internet services suspended to prevent further unrest.
The violence followed a 15-day hunger strike by agitators from the Karbi community, who were demanding the eviction of alleged illegal settlers from Village Grazing Reserve and Professional Grazing Reserve lands in tribal areas.
The settlers are reported to be largely migrants from Bihar.
Tensions escalated on Monday after police removed three protesters from the agitation site in the early hours, citing deterioration in their health and the need for hospitalisation.
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The move triggered widespread unrest, culminating in violent clashes in the Kheroni area on Tuesday.
During the clashes, one person was killed in police firing, while another was allegedly burnt alive inside his house, officials said.
An earlier attempt to evict settlers from the grazing lands had been halted last year after the Gauhati High Court issued an interim stay order.
In a bid to defuse the situation, a tripartite meeting involving the state government, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and representatives of the agitators was held on Friday.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured the protesters that the state government would approach the Gauhati High Court seeking an early hearing on the eviction matter related to grazing lands in both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts.
