Guwahati: In the aftermath of deadly violence linked to a land dispute in West Karbi Anglong, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the state government will approach the Gauhati High Court seeking an early order on the stay imposed on eviction drives in grazing lands in West Karbi Anglong and Karbi Anglong districts.
The chief minister made the statement after clashes between indigenous Karbi and Bihari communities earlier this week left two people dead and at least 70 injured, including police personnel.
A tripartite meeting was held during the day among the state government, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) and protestors demanding immediate clearing of encroachment of Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands in West Karbi Anglong district.
“It was decided today that the state government will appeal before the high court for an early judgment in the matter, as it is a sensitive issue and we can act as per the order,” Sarma said.
The chief minister had said on Thursday that the Karbi community’s demand for immediate eviction of alleged encroachers could not be accepted due to the Gauhati High Court’s stay on the matter.
Sarma said the KAAC, which has not filed its affidavit in the case over the past two years, will do so by January 5. “It was also decided that the Karbi people will submit a petition in the case before the court,” he added.
Tensions between indigenous Karbi and Bihari communities have been simmering in West Karbi Anglong over allegations of encroachment on VGR and PGR lands in tribal belts by Hindi-speaking settlers.
Agitators from the Karbi community had been on a hunger strike for 15 days demanding the eviction of alleged illegal settlers. Violence erupted on Monday after police took away three agitators from the protest site in the early hours, a move the administration later said was for their hospitalisation.
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The Kheroni area witnessed widespread violence on Tuesday, with one person killed in police firing and another burnt alive inside his house. More than 70 people, including over 60 police personnel, were injured.
Terming Friday’s meeting “fruitful”, Sarma said all issues should be resolved amicably. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the person killed in police firing, while the KAAC will provide a job to a family member.
It was also decided that all government offices located on VGR and PGR lands will be shifted, and around 8,000 bighas of vacant grazing land will be fenced and afforested to prevent future encroachment. Trade licences issued to businesses operating on grazing lands will be cancelled, he said.
