Karbi Anglong Insurgency: Origins, Timeline, Peace Accord, and the End of Insurgency
Historical Background of Karbi Anglong and Its People
Nestled in central Assam, Karbi Anglong is the state’s largest district, previously known as the Mikir Hills. Recognized as an autonomous region under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution since the 1950s, it was meant to preserve the rights and culture of its indigenous communities, mainly the Karbi people—a Tibeto-Burman tribe. Alongside them live other groups such as the Dimasas, Kukis, Rengma Nagas, Hmars, and Bodos. Originally administratively linked with North Cachar Hills (now Dima Hasao), the two areas were later bifurcated into separate autonomous districts. Despite this, Karbi leaders often felt that their unique identity was being overlooked within the broader Assamese polity. As early as 1946, the Karbi Adorbar demanded a separate administrative setup. In 1947, this plea reached the Bordoloi Committee, which was then framing tribal provisions for India. Although no state emerged, Karbi Anglong gained an Autonomous District Council in 1952. The call for enhanced autonomy persisted for decades, gaining traction in 1979 when the Karbi Anglong People’s Conference formally demanded a separate hill state. In 1986, the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) revived the demand for a separate state under Article 244(A), even winning council, assembly, and parliamentary seats. Yet, repeated political assurances yielded no concrete outcomes. Frustration over this stalemate drove some youth toward armed rebellion by the 1990s.
Root Causes of the Karbi Insurgency
The insurgency stemmed from a potent mix of political, cultural, and economic grievances. At its core was the aspiration for a separate autonomous state as allowed by Article 244(A). Many Karbis felt betrayed by decades of broken promises and slow political response. The drive for autonomy was deeply tied to the need for cultural preservation. Karbi language, customs, and traditions felt endangered in a rapidly mainstreaming Assamese landscape. The demand for “Hemprek Kangthim”—self-rule land—was not just political but existential. Demographic shifts added tension: though tribals formed 60% of Karbi Anglong’s population, other groups like Dimasas, Kukis, and Rengmas feared Karbi dominance if statehood were granted. This led to inter-ethnic violence, which in turn hardened Karbi resolve. Politically, Karbis felt marginalized in Dispur, with limited say in state matters. Even the Sixth Schedule autonomy was seen as symbolic, with real power held by state officials. Economically, the region lagged in infrastructure, healthcare, and employment. Remote geography and administrative neglect deepened poverty and hopelessness, making insurgency appealing to disenfranchised youth. Armed struggle thus appeared as the only remaining avenue to achieve long-denied goals.
Major Insurgent Groups and Their Evolution
Several insurgent outfits emerged in Karbi Anglong over time, often evolving through splits and mergers. The most prominent was the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), formed in 1999 by uniting two earlier outfits: Karbi National Volunteers and Karbi People’s Front. UPDS championed the autonomous state demand and engaged in violent activities until a ceasefire in 2002. Following negotiations, it signed the 2011 tripartite accord and disbanded by 2014. Notably, its leader Horen Sing Bey later became a BJP MP.
The Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) split from UPDS in 2004, opposing its peace process. KLNLF carried out attacks until a 2009 ceasefire, surrendering 400 cadres the following year. In 2010, the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) rose from KLNLF hardliners and became the dominant insurgent group during the 2010s, infamous for attacks and ethnic clashes with Rengma Nagas. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK) was launched around 2016 by Ingti Kathar Songbijit, a former Bodo rebel, and though it had limited impact, it kept the insurgency alive. Smaller outfits like the United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) also emerged. By 2021, all these groups agreed to disarm.
Timeline of Major Events
1946–47: Karbi Adorbar petitions for autonomy.
The Karbi Adorbar formally appeals for a separate administrative setup for Karbis, even submitting a demand to the Bordoloi Committee before India’s independence.
1952: Autonomous District Council established.
Under the Sixth Schedule, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council is created to offer limited self-governance to tribal communities.
1979: Formal statehood demand surfaces.
The Karbi Anglong People’s Conference officially demands a separate hill state within Assam, reviving the autonomy discourse.
1986: ASDC formed, sparking mass mobilization.
The Autonomous State Demand Committee launches a democratic movement demanding an autonomous state under Article 244(A).
1995–96: Karbi National Volunteers and Karbi People’s Front begin armed struggle.
Frustrated by political inaction, militant youth form KNV and KPF to pursue statehood through armed rebellion.
1999: UPDS formed.
KNV and KPF merge to create the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), intensifying insurgency with coordinated violence.
2002: UPDS ceasefire initiated.
The UPDS agrees to a ceasefire, beginning peace talks with the government to negotiate Karbi demands.
2003–04: Karbi–Kuki ethnic violence erupts, over 85 killed.
Clashes between Karbi and Kuki militants lead to massacres and displacement in the Singhason Hills.
2005: Karbi–Dimasa conflict kills over 100.
Violence erupts between Karbi and Dimasa militants, resulting in a wave of brutal killings and ethnic cleansing.
2009: KLNLF surrenders.
The KLNLF lays down arms after ceasefire talks, bringing over 400 fighters into peace negotiations.
2010: KPLT formed; continues violent struggle.
KLNLF hardliners form the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) to continue the insurgency and demand autonomy.
2011: UPDS signs peace accord; receives enhanced autonomy.
A tripartite peace agreement grants more power and development funds to the Karbi Council, ending UPDS militancy.
2013–14: KPLT attacks Rengma Nagas; 3,000 displaced.
Ethnic violence against Rengma Nagas displaces thousands and triggers retaliatory conflict.
2016: PDCK, UPLA gain presence.
New outfits like PDCK and UPLA emerge from insurgent fragments, though with smaller cadres and limited influence.
2021 (Feb): Mass surrender of 1,040 cadres from 5 groups.
Militants from KPLT, PDCK, KLNLF, UPLA, and KLF surrender with arms, marking a significant step toward peace.
2021 (Sep): Peace Accord signed; ₹1,000 crore development package announced.
The Karbi Anglong Peace Accord formally ends insurgency and promises infrastructure, jobs, and cultural protection.
2022–2023: KAAC elections held peacefully; major insurgent groups dissolved.
Free and fair council elections affirm public trust in governance; insurgency ends as ex-rebels enter mainstream politics.
Government and Security Response
The government combined constitutional outreach with counter-insurgency operations. The Sixth Schedule and Article 244(A) were early attempts to address autonomy demands. Security forces, especially in the 2000s and 2010s, cracked down on militant hideouts, arresting and neutralizing key figures. At the same time, dialogue channels remained open. Ceasefire agreements with UPDS (2002), KLNLF (2009), and others created the space for eventual accords in 2011 and 2021. These agreements offered greater autonomy through an upgraded council, increased representation, and financial packages. Former militants were rehabilitated, some inducted into local governance. This twin strategy of pressure and inclusion proved effective, especially as many ex-rebels found space in mainstream politics.
Current Status and Political Representation
By 2025, insurgency in Karbi Anglong is effectively over. The 2021 accord has been implemented gradually but visibly. Development projects, vocational programs for former militants, and establishment of the Karbi Welfare Council are underway. The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has expanded to 50 members, providing broader representation. Former insurgents now serve as elected leaders and administrative advisors. Karbi voices are present in the Assam Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha, with Horen Sing Bey as MP from the Autonomous District constituency. While the dream of an Article 244(A) state remains in public discourse, most leaders are now focused on development and governance. As long as the peace agreement is respected, and Karbi cultural rights and development needs are honored, the prospects for lasting peace remain strong.
Conclusion
The journey of Karbi Anglong—from early autonomy demands to violent insurgency, and finally to a peace accord—is a complex but instructive saga. It reflects how identity, political representation, and development are inseparable in Northeast India’s conflicts. The successful disarmament of over 1,000 insurgents and the region’s post-2021 transformation stand as a testament to what sustained dialogue, targeted development, and inclusion can achieve. Today, Karbi Anglong represents not a region in revolt, but a community reclaiming its future through peace and democratic participation.