Internet services were suspended in parts of Assam on Tuesday evening following violent clashes between two groups. At least eight people were injured in the clashes — with officials resorting to lathi charge and firing teargas shells to disperse the mob. Dozens of police officers were also injured as the protesters set shops ablaze and attacked them with arrows and stones.
An official order from the Home and Political Department of Assam confirmed that internet services had been suspended until further orders in order to maintain ‘greater public peace and tranquility’. The order further clarified that voice calls and broadband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines would remain functional during this period.
The district magistrates of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts received reports regarding a serious law and order situation, and there is serious apprehension that there might be likelihood of breach of public peace and tranquility, it said. Social media and internet may be used to further spread inflammatory messages and rumours, which may lead to further aggravation of the situation, the department’s Commissioner and Secretary Biswajit Pegu said in the order. Any violation of the promulgation will be punishable as per laws, it added.
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Police attacked, shops set on fire
“I had myself gone to speak to the crowd directly. But now they are attacking the police from two sides. Around 38 policemen have been injured, including IPS officers… Yesterday they had promised that we would not destroy any more shops. They dragged out cylinders from shops and burst them. They are attacking with arrows and stones. There will be no resolution in this way,” Indian Express quoted Assam DGP Harmeet Singh as saying.
What led to the unrest?
The violent protests had erupted over the demand for evictions of illegal encroachers from the Village Grazing Reserve and Professional Grazing Reserve lands in the hilly district. Nine individuals had undertaken a hunger strike over the matter for the past two weeks — reiterating the longstanding demand from Karbi tribal bodies. Both the tribal majority hill districts are under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
Tensions flared after the protesters on hunger strike were taken away from the site on Monday — with police saying it was done to give them medical treatment in Guwahati. Cabinet Minister Ranoj Pegu had also visited the Kheroni area on Tuesday and sought tripartite talks involving the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Government of Assam.
“I met members of the Karbi community in Kheroni Phelangpi, where they had been observing a fast unto death demanding, among other issues, evictions of the encroachments in Kheroni VGR/PGR. Following my appeal, the agitators agreed to call off their hunger strike and consented to a tripartite discussion chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 26,” Indian Express quoted him as saying.
Violence had reignited soon after he left the area.
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