Assam to Move HC on Grazing Land Row

• Assam to approach Gauhati High Court on Jan 5 over VGR–PGR eviction issue
• Govt to fence 8,000 bighas of grazing reserve land
• KAAC to cancel trade licences on protected tribal land
• ₹10 lakh compensation, job announced for victim’s family

GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 27th Dec: Seeking to defuse tensions following days of violence in Karbi Anglong, the Assam government will approach the Gauhati High Court on January 5 to seek clarity on eviction of alleged encroachments on Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) land.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the move on Friday evening after a tripartite meeting involving protest leaders, state officials and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

The unrest erupted after members of the indigenous Karbi community launched an indefinite hunger strike demanding eviction of settlers from grazing reserve land protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The protests later turned violent, leaving over 60 officials injured and claiming two lives.

Sarma said the government has decided to withdraw all offices from VGR and PGR land, fence nearly 8,000 bighas of such land and launch a large-scale afforestation drive to restore green cover. The KAAC will cancel all existing trade licences issued in these areas, and no new licences will be granted.

Announcing relief measures, the Chief Minister said the family of the person killed in police firing will receive a government job and ₹10 lakh compensation. Another review meeting has been scheduled for January 16 or 17.

Sarma added that delays in eviction were partly due to the KAAC’s failure to submit required affidavits to the High Court, assuring that the necessary documentation will now be filed to enable further action.

He also noted that illegal encroachments are not confined to grazing reserves but extend to other categories of government land across the district.