Guwahati: New testimonies have emerged from the violence-affected areas of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, where mob attacks and arson on Monday night (December 22) forced several families to flee and left at least one person dead, officials and residents said.
Local resident Sushil Malakar said that violence erupted around 6 pm after nightfall, spreading panic in the area. He said that stone-pelting by the mob created chaos, forcing residents to abandon their homes without any prior warning.
Malakar said he had been living in the area with his uncle and aunt for years and had never expected such unrest. “We thought we were safe here,” he said, adding that a family acquaintance had allegedly warned them to flee or face death. “We ran for our lives and couldn’t take anything with us. All our belongings were later reduced to ashes.”
According to Malakar, six to seven houses in his neighborhood were set ablaze, while more than 50 houses were burned down across the entire area. He also alleged that a sick boy, who was unable to flee during the violence, was left behind and died after his house was set on fire.
Residents said that fear persists despite the heavy deployment of police and security forces. “We feel some relief when the police are around. When they leave, the fear returns,” Malakar said.
He emphasized that the affected families had been living in the area for generations. “Our parents were born and raised here. Losing our homes has shattered our sense of security,” he said.
Officials said that security forces are deployed in the sensitive areas of Karbi Anglong, and authorities are continuing their investigation and working to restore normalcy.
