Assam
Guwahati
,
Diphu
,
Karbi Anglong
Published :
|
Updated :
Tribals demand cancellation of multiple corporate projects in Karbi Anglong
Reported by
Sarup Sinha
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Sourabh Rai, Amrita Chekkutty
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2023
Year started
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2023
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Infrastructure
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Infrastructure
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
1
Summary

Following the 'Advantage Assam 2.0' investment summit, various local organisations from Assam have staged protests and rallies, especially in Karbi Anglong and Guwahati, against major corporate projects linked with Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Baba Ramdev, and other industrialists.

In Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong, a protest was organised on 25 March 2025, by the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC), the National People’s Party (NPP), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation. Protesters marched to the District Commissioner’s Office, opposing various government-backed projects including a 1000 MW Solar Power project, a Sainik School in Langvoku, a Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plant linked to Ambani’s ventures, the closure of the Cement Corporation of India in Bokajan, and the Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project in Amtreng.

Protesters claimed that these projects encroach on indigenous lands protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. One protester stated, “The Solar Power Project alone requires thousands of bighas of fertile land, while the Sainik School and CBG projects further invade tribal territories.” According to media reports, 18,000 bighas of land could be allotted in Karbi Anglong for a solar power project (funded by the Asian Development Bank) that could displace 24 villages and over 20,000 people.

A memorandum submitted to the District Commissioner demanded an immediate end to land acquisition and a review of how these projects affect tribal lands. The memorandum had four major demands: the cancellation of the disputed projects, an immediate cessation of evictions, safeguarding land rights under the Sixth Schedule, and providing fair compensation to displaced families.

On 25 April 2025, protests were held in Guwahati, where people raised slogans such as “Adani Go Back” and “Ambani Go Back.” Organised[ ](#:~:text=GUWAHATI%2C April 25%3A In a,Biswa Sarma-led BJP government.)by the Karbi Anglong Solar Power Project Affected People’s Rights Committee and the Joint Land Struggles Committee, Assam, the demonstration condemned the possible evictions of tribal groups, namely the Karbi, Dimasa, Mising, Tiwa, and Rabha, from their lands.

Protesters criticised land acquisition initiatives, such as Mission Basundhara and Advantage Assam, claiming these programs benefit large corporations at the expense of poor and tribal communities.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to cancel the project

Demand for compensation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban and Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Government of Assam, Revenue and Disaster Management Department of Assam, District Administration of Karbi Anglong, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council,

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

All Party Hills Leaders Conference; National People’s Party; Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Reliance Group, Adani Group, Patanjali Ayurved

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Karbi Anglong Solar Power Project Affected People’s Rights Committee Joint Land Struggles Committee, Assam

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to cancel the project

Demand for compensation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

JOIN
THE LCW COMMUNITY
Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


Support our work.
Sign Up Today
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