In a tribal district of Assam called Dima Hasao, which is governed by special laws protecting tribal land rights, the government allotted a huge area of about 3,000 bighas (roughly 1,000 acres or 4 square kilometers) of tribal land to a private company named Mahabal Cement. This was for building a cement factory. The allotment happened in two parts during late 2024, and the company announced plans to invest heavily to set up the plant. However, local villagers, many of whom are tribal residents, opposed this because they would be evicted from the land, which is their home and livelihood. The villagers were reportedly tricked into signing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) under the pretext of reasons unrelated to the cement project, meaning they were misled about what the land would be used for. The company claimed the land was barren and thus suitable for the factory, but a significant portion of this land (about 1,000 acres) is actually an environmental hotspot known as Umrangso. It...