Assam: Mob torches home of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council chief amid protests

The arson followed clashes between protesters and security forces over demands to evict alleged encroachers from protected grazing lands. Several houses, shops and public properties were vandalised or torched in parts of Kheroni and nearby areas as the situation spiralled out of control.

The unrest later spread to Dongkamokam, Ronghang’s constituency, where protesters marched to his ancestral residence and set it ablaze. Ronghang said his elderly father, who usually stays at the house, was not present at the time. Only security personnel were stationed there, he added.

The violence was preceded by tension on Sunday night after police detained nine protesters, including a youth leader, from an indefinite hunger strike site in Kheroni.