Authorities in Assam have restored mobile internet services in the violence-affected Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts as the law and order situation gradually returns to normal, officials said on Sunday. The move comes nearly five days after services were suspended on December 23, following intense clashes between local indigenous groups and migrant communities.

Background of the Violence

The disturbances erupted in West Karbi Anglong last week, leading to two deaths and injuries to over 170 people, most of them security personnel from the Assam Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The unrest stemmed from long-standing tensions between the indigenous Karbi community and migrant Bihari settlers over alleged encroachments on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands in the tribal belts.

The conflict escalated after Karbi protesters, who had been on a 15-day hunger strike, expressed anger over what they claimed was illegal occupation of their traditional grazing lands. The situation took a violent turn when police removed three agitators from the protest site during early hours, reportedly to take them to a Guwahati hospital for health reasons. This action, perceived by some as an eviction attempt, triggered widespread rioting.

In Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong, violence reached a deadly peak when police firing killed one person and another individual was reportedly burnt alive inside his house, underscoring the severity of the clashes.

Restoration of Mobile Services

In an official order issued by Ajay Tewari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department, mobile internet services were reinstated with immediate effect. The order cited that the law and order situation in both districts had improved and normalised, and that authorities saw no further apprehension of a breach of public peace at the moment. All mobile service providers in the districts were instructed to resume services from 8 am on Sunday.

An official in Diphu stated that shops and business establishments had begun reopening and that residents were coming out to procure essentials, signaling a gradual return to normalcy.

Security Arrangements

Despite the improvement, security forces continue to maintain a strict vigil across the affected areas. The Army, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and CRPF remain deployed in the worst-hit zones, assisting local police to prevent any further disturbances. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) are still in force to ensure public safety.

Authorities reported that 173 security personnel were injured during the violence, highlighting the scale of the unrest and the risks faced by law enforcement during the clashes.

Political and Administrative Measures

The unrest prompted a tripartite meeting on Friday involving the Assam government, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, and the protesters. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured the agitators that the government would approach the Gauhati High Court for an early order regarding the eviction stay that had previously been issued. This is aimed at addressing the land-related disputes that triggered the clashes.

Authorities have stressed that while the mobile internet suspension was a temporary measure to curb misinformation and maintain public order, the restoration of services reflects the overall improvement in the security environment.

Context of Land Disputes

The friction between the Karbi indigenous community and migrant settlers in West Karbi Anglong is not new. A previous eviction attempt last year had been halted after a petition in the Gauhati High Court, which issued an interim stay on eviction proceedings. The recent disturbances highlight the continuing tensions over land rights and community claims in tribal areas.

The state government’s approach now involves balancing law and order with legal redress through the courts while engaging local stakeholders to prevent further escalation.

Current Situation

With mobile services restored, businesses reopening, and public life gradually resuming, authorities hope that calm will be maintained. Security forces remain on alert, particularly in areas previously affected by the violence, and ongoing dialogues with community leaders aim to prevent further incidents.

The restoration of internet services marks a key step in returning normalcy to Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, which have seen both communal tensions and administrative challenges amid ongoing land disputes.