HT Correspondent
KHERONI, Dec 28: Tensions in West Karbi Anglong have taken a legal turn with the Kheroni Police Outpost registering a First Information Report (FIR) against three persons for allegedly raising provocative “Karbi Go Back” slogans during the recent unrest in the region.
The FIR was lodged following complaints supported by video footage and reports that surfaced during the peak of the violence in Kheroni.
The accused have been identified as Vikas Chauhan, Yuvraj Pathak and Dhanu Verma, police sources said.
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In a rare show of unity, several community organisations—the Hindi-speaking Students’ Organisation, Bengali Samaj, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and the Assam Gorkha Sammelan—jointly condemned the slogans and distanced their respective communities from the remarks.
The organisations stated that xenophobic comments targeting the indigenous Karbi community were unacceptable and posed a serious threat to the district’s long-standing communal harmony.
West Karbi Anglong has remained tense following violent clashes earlier this week, triggered by a long-standing dispute over alleged encroachment on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands.
The situation worsened after a hunger strike by indigenous Karbi groups was forcibly cleared, sparking widespread protests, incidents of arson and the death of two persons.
Security forces, including the Indian Army and the CRPF, continue to maintain a tight vigil across the affected areas.
Community leaders have appealed for restraint and calm, with many viewing the FIR filed by non-tribal organisations as a significant step towards de-escalating ethnic tensions and reinforcing social cohesion in the Sixth Schedule area.
