Fresh violence broke out on Tuesday for the second consecutive day in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, officials said, leaving at least eight people injured in clashes between two groups of protestors. The unrest forced the government to temporarily suspend internet services in both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts to prevent misinformation and keep peace in the area.

The clashes occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Kheroni market area, where two groups of protestors had a face-off against each other. Both sides became aggressive, throwing stones, and the situation quickly turned out of control.

Officials said that when both sides started pelting stones at each other, the security forces first tried to calm the crowds. But as the situation worsened, they were forced to take stronger action. Police resorted to a lathi charge and fired tear‑gas shells to disperse the fighting groups.

At least eight people were injured in the clashes, including protestors, police personnel and media persons who were at the site reporting on the situation.

The clashes on Tuesday ensued after earlier violence on Monday, when protestors dramatically turned angry and violent. On Monday, four people had been injured in police firing as protestors went on a rampage. They set fire to the house of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief executive member Tuliram Ronghang and also burned around 15 shops in Kheroni Bazaar.

The protestors had been angry about the destruction of their shops and homes by mobs on Monday. Many of the people who came out on Tuesday were women and children who had lost their shops the day before. They joined other agitators who were demanding the eviction of alleged “encroachers” from tribal belt areas.

The protestors say these people — referred to as “encroachers” — are living on land in the tribal belt that should be protected. They claimed that most of these encroachers come from outside the state, especially from Bihar. They want the government to remove them from the Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

As tensions continued into a second day, the Assam government suspended internet services in both Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts on Tuesday evening to prevent false information and rumour-mongering.

The suspension of internet services is temporary and will remain in effect until further orders from the government. Officials said that voice calls and fixed telephone broadband services would work while mobile internet was cut.

Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, described the situation in Karbi Anglong as “very sensitive.” He spoke to reporters at a programme and stressed that authorities were working to control the unrest. “Senior minister Ranoj Pegu is present in the district. I believe the matter will be resolved soon,” he said.

Senior Minister Ranoj Pegu, who is also Assam’s Education and Plain Tribe & Backwards Classes (non‑BTC) Minister, held talks with the protestors earlier on Tuesday. The protestors had been on a hunger strike for the past 15 days, demanding the eviction of illegal settlers.

After Pegu’s discussions with the protestors, they decided to withdraw their hunger strike. The protestors said they were assured that tripartite talks — meaning discussions involving the protest leaders, government officials, and relevant authorities — would be held soon. Pegu told that Chief Minister Sarma would be present at the meeting.

The violence on Monday was severe and marked a sharp escalation of the protest. When protestors went on the rampage, they not only burned the council chief’s house and shops but also attempted to attack the local police station. Fortunately, security forces managed to stop that attack.

Following Monday’s clashes, Chief Minister Sarma stated that rumours of the arrest of three hunger‑strike protesters had escalated tensions. But he clarified to reporters, “No one has been arrested. They were taken to Guwahati for treatment as their health deteriorated.”

The protestors have been demanding the eviction of people they call “encroachers.” They say most of these people “hail from Bihar,” and have illegally settled on grazing lands that should belong to the tribal communities in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

The protestors include representatives of several political and social organisations that have been active in the hill region for a long time. The hunger strike and demonstrations were an attempt to urge for urgent government action to reclaim land that they believe rightfully belongs to the tribal people.

Even after Tuesday’s protest and pause in the hunger strike, the situation in Karbi Anglong remained “tense”. Security forces were increased in the area, and additional personnel were sent to the market and surrounding streets to prevent further clashes.