A social activist from Karbi Anglong has said that people in the region will first consult the wider community before deciding how to respond to the ongoing talks between Karbi groups, the Assam government and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. The talks are being held to calm tensions and resolve the long-running dispute over Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands.
Social activist Litson Rongshar said the situation is still uncertain and that it is not the right time to say whether people are satisfied or unhappy with the outcome of the discussions so far. He said the group would now return to their area and hold meetings with the public and various organisations before taking any final stand.
According to him, the people are “almost positive,” but they want to wait for the next round of talks likely to be called by the state government on January 17. He said society is waiting for a clear outcome and wants to see what decision the government takes. 
Speaking about the recent unrest and acts of violence, he said the situation worsened because of what he described as mismanagement of law and order and the failure of both the state government and the autonomous council. He said several petitions and memorandums had been submitted over the past three to four years to the state government, the central government and the council, but the issues raised were not given priority. He added that people are worried about losing their rights, identity and representation, which finally led to public anger and protest.
When asked about appeals for peace, Rongshar said the organisations had already spoken about peace earlier. However, he said the final decision on whether to continue the movement or suspend it would be taken only after discussions within the community back home.
The current situation follows a tripartite meeting held in Guwahati on December 26, where the Assam government, Karbi organisations and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council discussed ways to restore peace in West Karbi Anglong. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said several important decisions were taken to reduce tension and bring clarity on the VGR-PGR land issue.
It was decided that all parties would jointly approach the Gauhati High Court for an early resolution. The government also said offices located inside VGR and PGR areas would be shifted, vacant land would be fenced, and deforestation drives would be carried out to prevent fresh encroachment. Trade licences issued illegally in recent years would be cancelled, and eviction steps would be taken on government and departmental land.
The Chief Minister also said a government job would be given to the family of the person who died during the recent unrest, and police cases connected to the agitation would be withdrawn. He added that another round of talks would be held in mid-January to settle the remaining points.
Sarma said the talks were constructive and expressed hope that the issues could be settled peacefully over time. He also said that a delay had taken place because the autonomous council had not filed an affidavit in the High Court for the past two years, and the council would now be required to submit it by January 5.
