Sonapur, Oct 5: Tension prevailed at Lal Mati in Dimoria on Monday after hundreds of tribal residents protesting against the proposed alignment of a high-voltage transmission line were stopped from marching towards National Highway-27, leading to a confrontation with security personnel. The protesters, including a large number of women, had gathered at Lal Mati following a call by six Amri Karbi tribal organisations to block the highway.

The organisations have been demanding realignment of the proposed transmission line, saying it would affect homes, agricultural land and limited patta land holdings in the predominantly tribal-inhabited belt. Security personnel had been deployed in the area since morning in anticipation of the proposed blockade.

When the protesters moved towards the highway, the security forces stopped them, leading to pushing and an altercation between the two sides. The organisations have been opposing the alignment for several years and have submitted repeated representations to the authorities since 2022.

“We have submitted memorandums to the state government several times. Whenever we submit a memorandum, they give us hope that they will find an alternative route.

But even after receiving the memorandums, they continue the work by deploying police forces,” Amri Karbi Students’ Union secretary Ramen Kathar said. “We will give our lives, but we will not take money in the name of compensation.

We are hopeful that the government will support our protest. If not, our agitation will intensify in the coming days,” Kathar said.

The proposed transmission corridor forms part of the Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd (AEGCL) project involving the 400/220/132/33-kV Sonapur GIS and associated high-voltage transmission infrastructure. Official AEGCL documents identify 13 villages along the transmission line corridor.

“We are not against the power line. We are only demanding its realignment so that the land rights of the community are safeguarded,” Amri Karbi Students’ Union leader Mahendra Terang said.

The latest protest followed a September 30 announcement by six tribal organisations that they would block NH-27 on October 5 if their demand for realignment was not addressed. The groups had said they had been submitting memorandums and holding discussions with officials since 2022.

“The protesters have submitted a memorandum. They had also submitted memorandums in the past.