Violence broke out along the India–Bhutan border in Chirang district on Friday, April 17 after an eviction drive targeting Adivasi residents in so-called “reserved forest land” which triggered clashes with state security forces.
Tensions centered around Runikhata, where forest officials moved to clear areas they said were “illegally occupied.” Local residents, including many women, staged protests demanding the release of individuals detained during the operation, leading to an overnight blockade of the forest range office.
The confrontation escalated when forest personnel carried out a baton charge, reportedly leaving at least two women seriously injured and intensifying anger among the protesters. Fresh demonstrations followed, with reports that security forces opened fire to disperse crowds, while protesters responded with stone-pelting that injured several police personnel.
Authorities have deployed additional forces, but sporadic clashes continue.
The incident reflects broader tensions across India, where Adivasi communities have increasingly resisted eviction drives tied to forest and conservation policies. While the Forest Rights Act 2006 was meant to recognize the land rights of indigenous forest dwellers, rights groups and analysts say its implementation has been deeply flawed, leaving many communities without secure tenure.
Reports suggest that a large proportion of forest rights claims remain rejected or unresolved, with only about half of claims leading to formal land titles in some regions. This has contributed to recurring conflicts, as communities are often labeled “encroachers” on lands they have inhabited for generations.
At the same time, amendments to forest laws and infrastructure projects, especially in border areas, have been criticized for bypassing requirements for indigenous consent and weakening protections for tribal lands.
Human rights bodies have also flagged an escalation of violence in Adivasi regions. Earlier this year, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN CERD) reported “widespread and unprecedented violence” against Adivasi civilians, including hundreds killed in security operations in recent years.
Across multiple states in India, eviction drives have intensified, often justified under conservation or development initiatives, while activists argue they disproportionately displace indigenous communities and open land for commercial or state-backed projects.
For many protesters, the demand is not only to halt evictions but to secure long-promised recognition of their rights—rights they say remain largely unmet despite existing legal protections.
