GUWAHATI, Nov 28: Assam’s Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang announced on Wednesday that 700 Kuki-Zo people, who had sought refuge in Karbi Anglong last year due to the violence in Manipur, have already been sent back. The return process followed discussions with Kuki community leaders and organizations.

Ronghang stated that the council had covered the travel expenses for the returnees, and they were sent back in buses with security escorts. He also mentioned that around 1,000 more Kuki-Zo people, including approximately 400 families, are currently sheltered in the Singhasan Hills and Borjan areas of Karbi Anglong. Efforts will be made to help these individuals return to their homes in Manipur as well.

Emphasizing the importance of ensuring a safe and peaceful return, Ronghang said that discussions had been held with various stakeholders, including student organizations and village elders from both the Karbi and Kuki communities. “We will not forcefully evict them, but we will facilitate their return after discussions with social and political organizations, including the Kuki community,” he added.

Ronghang also made it clear that land allotments would be restricted to indigenous residents of Karbi Anglong—those who have lived in the district since its establishment or are long-standing permanent residents. He confirmed that land rights would not be granted to recent migrants, particularly those who arrived from Manipur following the violence. The distribution of land documents, aimed at securing land rights for indigenous people, will not extend to these migrants.

A meeting has been scheduled for November 28 to further discuss the matter, and Ronghang expressed hope for an amicable resolution.

However, the move has faced criticism from some quarters. J I Kathar, the president of the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), condemned Ronghang’s statements as “irresponsible.” Kathar argued that the Kuki-Zo people had come to Karbi Anglong in search of shelter and security, having been displaced by the violence in Manipur. He pointed out that while the BJP government has remained silent on the issue of other groups, such as Bangladeshis and Biharis settling in the district, they have shown indifference toward the plight of the displaced Kukis.

Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, two of Assam’s three hill districts, are governed by the KAAC under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. These districts are home to a diverse range of communities, including the Karbis, Kukis, Hmars, and Thadous. Over the years, there has been significant tension and conflict between the Karbi and Kuki communities, largely driven by land disputes, resources, and political representation.

The violence between these communities escalated in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with militant groups such as the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), representing the Karbis, and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) engaging in armed conflict. This resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. A peace agreement signed in 2021 has since helped end the long-standing conflict between Karbi militant groups and the state.