Thousands in Assam’s Karbi Anglong Protest Demanding Eviction of Illegal Settlers from Reserved Lands

The protest urged the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to conduct an eviction drive in the PGR/VGR lands

In a bid to intensify its pressure on the government to evict alleged illegal settlers from Professional and Village Grazing Reserved (PGR/VGR) lands in Karbi Anglong, the All Party Hill Leader Conference (APHLC), a regional political group, staged a protest, calling for immediate action.

The protest, led by APHLC president Jones Engti Kathar, urged the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to conduct an eviction drive in the PGR/VGR lands located in Kheroni, West Karbi Anglong.

The protest was held despite a prohibitory order issued by the Karbi Anglong District Magistrate. Defying the order, the APHLC argued that immediate action was necessary to safeguard public lands from illegal encroachment, stating that their protest aimed to pressure the KAAC into taking concrete steps.
Although the issue is still pending before the Guwahati High Court, APHLC leaders stressed the urgency of protecting the grazing reserves.

The protest drew a significant crowd, with large numbers of APHLC supporters gathering to voice their demand for justice. Speaking at the rally, APHLC president Jones Engti Kathar emphasized the importance of protecting Karbi Anglong’s grazing reserves for the benefit of local communities and the region’s pastoral economy.

The protest took place in the backdrop of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council, led by Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang, announcing its decision yesterday to take steps to protect the lands.

In a meeting of the High-Power Committee, chaired by Ronghang, the KAAC passed a resolution to fence over 9,000 bighas of Professional Grazing Reserve land, out of a total of over 11,000 bighas, as a means of safeguarding the land from further encroachment

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