Political parties and tribal groups in Assam’s Dima Hasao district accuse the State government and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council of illegally transferring tribal land to big companies. The accused lands are being used for limestone mining, cement production, and hydropower projects. Thousands gathered at Umrangso on January 31, 2026, to protest these land allotments. A memorandum was submitted to Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya by leaders, including Congress’s Bapojith Langthasa. They asked the Governor to use his special powers under the Sixth Schedule to stop these actions. They claimed over 9,000 bighas of tribal land were given out for limestone mining in the past two years, affecting seven villages. The land has reportedly been allotted to firms like Ambuja Cements (now part of Adani Group), Dalmia Bharat, Star Cement, and JK Lakshmi Cement. Protesters say these lands overlap with the Krungming Reserve Forest and a Key Biodiversity Area, home to endangered white-rumped vultures and rare migratory Amur falcons, plus important elephant corridors. They cite displacement of many tribal families without proper compensation, saying payments went to fake beneficiaries. At least 77 tribal households with legal records were left out from compensation. They also raised concerns over a 1,250 MW pumped-storage hydropower project involving Assam Power Generation Corporation and Adani Green, which threatens to submerge jhum cultivation lands and displace three villages located in risky landslide and earthquake zones. The memorandum further accuses authorities of allotting land without social impact assessments, public hearings, or informing village leaders, violating the law. In customary tribal areas, land is held traditionally rather than by formal titles. Officials are alleged to label tribal lands as “vacant” to bypass legal protections. Tribal leaders warn these projects will cause serious environmental damage, including deforestation, pollution, destruction of wildlife corridors, and loss of sacred cultural sites. They called out the Autonomous Council, State agencies, and environmental bodies for failing to protect tribal rights. They urged the Governor to act quickly, pointing out that legal cases could drag on for years while harm continues. "Court cases could take years while irreversible damage continues on the ground," their memorandum stated.