Guwahati, June 5: Citing the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report on rampant illegal mining in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape, the Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI investigation and called for immediate arrest of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang on sedition charges.
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, former MP Ripun Borah claimed the illegal mining was not only in violation of a 2019 Supreme Court order but was also being shielded by top political figures, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“We’ve long alleged a nexus between CM Sarma and Tuliram Ronghang. Whenever the CM travels abroad, Ronghang is with him. He’s not just a party member—he’s the CM’s ATM,” Borah alleged, comparing the KAAC chief to a financial lifeline for the chief minister.
Borah accused the duo of enabling the massive destruction of forest resources, biodiversity, and plantations in Karbi Anglong. He also cited the January 2025 coal mine tragedy in Dima Hasao, where over 35 labourers died at the “3 Kilo” site in Umrangso. Despite an FIR against Kanika Hojai, wife of NCHAC CEM Debolal Gorlosa, no action has been taken, Borah said.
In 2019, environmental activist Rohit Choudhury had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which led to an order banning all mining and related activities in and around Kaziranga National Park, including rivers and streams flowing from the Karbi Anglong hill ranges into the park. It also restricted new construction in nine wildlife corridors.
Despite this, KAAC granted mining licenses in 12 locations within Karbi Anglong, Borah claimed. One of the key illegal zones mentioned was Parcup Pahar, where mining is strictly prohibited.
Following a forest officer’s complaint, the Supreme Court formed the CEC, which investigated between December 2024 and May 2025. The committee’s report confirmed ongoing mining operations in violation of court directives.
The KAAC reportedly issued mining licenses to 10 individuals, including Bidyasing Engti (Napani), Lip Terang (Lengthang), Bronson Terang, Raju Inghi, Mangalsing Engti and Sanjay Phangso.
When the CEC confronted KAAC over these violations, the council suspended—but did not cancel—the licenses. Two license holders later challenged the suspension in the Gauhati High Court, which ordered their reinstatement in May 2025.
Borah argued that this defiance of the Supreme Court order amounted to sedition and endangered Kaziranga’s wildlife and biodiversity. He also alleged that Ronghang is building a ₹200 crore residence in Guwahati, warning, “He will be held accountable when we return to power in 2026.”
The Congress leader further criticized the state government’s April 2025 move to withdraw the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notification for 3,600 sq km around Kaziranga and 10 other reserve forests. “They scrapped the ESZ declaration just to open the gates for illegal mining,” he said.
With mounting evidence and explosive allegations, the demand for a central probe into the Kaziranga mining scandal adds new pressure on the Assam government—raising both political and environmental stakes.
