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Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Assam's crackdown on beef, 100 eateries raided, 1,000 kg meat seized, 132 arrests
Over 100 eateries across Assam were raided on Tuesday, and police said over 1,000 kg of suspected beef was seized, in a state-wide crackdown against the unauthorised sale of beef in eateries. Assam IGP (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh told The Indian Express that 112 eateries were searched across the state as of 8 pm Tuesday, after which 132 people were apprehended and 1,084 kg of suspected beef was seized. This comes in the backdrop of politics over beef and cattle taking centre stage in Assam over the past month, during which over 150 people were arrested in Dhubri alone after separate incidents of suspected cattle remains being recovered from near temples in Dhubri, Goalpara and Lakhimpur. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had alleged that the incidents were part of an attempt to create unrest 'since Eid ul Zuha'. Last month, Sarma had said the government would tighten the implementation of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, in response to these incidents. While the Act does not ban the consumption of beef, it has a section that prohibits the sale of beef and beef products in areas 'which are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra, or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or area as may be prescribed by the competent authority'. It also only allows the sale of beef or beef products at places 'permitted to do so by the competent authority'. Last December, Sarma had announced a complete ban on the public consumption of beef in the state, including at restaurants and community gatherings. However, a legislation or legislative amendment to this end has not been passed yet. The raids on Tuesday took place across all parts of the state. In Dibrugarh, the biggest town in eastern Assam, SSP V V Rakesh Reddy said three eateries were raided as of Tuesday evening. 'It is a crackdown against beef selling and to implement the Assam Cattle Preservation Act. We raided three hotels in the town and collected 15 kg of suspected beef from them. We also picked up three individuals. One of the eateries was operating right in front of a Kali temple. Such searches will continue,' he said. In central Assam's Nagaon district, SP Swapnaneel Deka said that 16 people had been apprehended as of Tuesday evening after raids in 15 eateries. These raids have also been reported from other districts, including Hojai, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Darrang, and Morigaon.
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Himanta says will tighten cattle slaughter law after series of arrests bring issue to centre stage in Assam
Politics over cattle and beef have taken a centre-stage in Assam after a string of incidents in which suspected cattle remains have been recovered near places of worship, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma saying Friday that the government would tighten the enforcement of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, while Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has alleged BJP involvement in these incidents ahead of next year's elections. In the past two weeks, at least 72 people have been arrested in Dhubri, Goalpara and Lakhimpur after three separate incidents of suspected cattle remains being recovered from near temples in the first two places, and near a namghar (community prayer hall) in Lakhimpur. Sarma Friday referred to these as an attempt to create unrest 'since Eid ul Zuha.' Speaking at a press conference, he said that all these incidents have taken place in 'sensitive areas.' 'When we look at all these incidents and wherever they have taken place, they are near localities where there have been arrangements of eating beef during Eid ul Zuha. Our cattle preservation bill says that if Hindu people stay in an area, or if there are temples or namghars, this kind of meat cannot be consumed within 5 kilometres radius near these. That is a legal provision,' he said. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, that he was referring to has a section which prohibits the sale of beef and beef products in areas 'which are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra, or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or area as may be prescribed by the competent authority.' Sarma said that the state government would prepare an SOP to stop qurbani (sacrifice) of cattle within a 5-km radius of such premises saying the enforcement of this 'can be a permanent solution.' 'Dhubri has one of the leading gurudwaras in the country. And there are many temples near that… But this time around Eid, the district administration had not enforced this provision the way it should have been done… So, we have directed district administrations that this significant section in our cattle preservation bill has to be enforced very strictly… This can be a permanent solution. If the 5 km provision is implemented, no one can eat and no one can slaughter within Dhubri town,' he said. Last week, he had also alleged that beef is being 'weaponised' against Hindus in the state to force them away from places. Hitting out against these developments, MP and Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi has accused Sarma of 'Jinnah-like politics' and alleged a BJP role in these incidents. 'There should be investigation into all these people who have been held so far on who gave them this idea, who gave them the advice. Those who have done it have done an offence, but who gave them the idea?… Elections are close, failures have to be hidden, and this is their whole strategy,' said Gogoi on Friday. 'There are some criminal minded people within them. Within the BJP, RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, there are some criminal minded people who seek to do these kinds of things before elections. Our aim is not to let a communal environment be created inside Assam… We will not let him do his 'Jinnah-like' politics,' he added.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam CM orders ‘shoot-at-sight' after beef incident sparks communal tension in Dhubri
Guwahati: Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that 38 people have been arrested in connection with a beef incident in Dhubri. The chief minister visited Dhubri on Friday and reviewed the law-and-order situation of the district. The government has brought Senior Superintendent of Police, Hailakandi Leena Doley as the Senior Superintendent of Police Dhubri. The Dhubri town in Assam witnessed tension since last one week after a prohibited meat and a severed cow head was recovered from a Hanuman temple in the town. The Chief Minister visited the town and assessed the on-the ground situation holding a high-level meeting in Dhubri with DGP Harmeet Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tiwari, and other senior officials of the state administration. Sarma also visited the temple site and interacted with members of the temple committee and local residents. He also inspected the temple and its surrounding areas and took stock of the deployment of security personnel. He also assured government assistance for the development of the temple. He also emphasized the need to identify those responsible for orchestrating the unrest. The Chief Minister firmly stated that no individual or group would be allowed to weaponize the incident involving the prohibited meat to create social discord. Following the outcome of the meeting, the Chief Minister ordered the deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) along with additional security forces in Dhubri to help normalize the situation. Dhubri district in Assam witnessing law and order issue post Bakrid celebration, Sarma said he has asked the police to shoot at sight the criminal elements. The town has repeatedly witnessed recovery of beef near a temple. He said that the government has issued shoot at sight orders in Dhubri. "The law-and-order situation was a little challenging here for the last one week. After the Eid ul Zuha, somebody kept a severed head of a cow in Hanuman temple. Peace committees are formed involving Hindus and Muslims. However, it was repeated the next day again," he said while adding that there were also cases of stone pelting at night, he said. Sarma had said, 'From next time onwards I will come to Dhubri before Eid and camp for at least 10 days. Police will shoot at the sight of criminal elements." The chief minister further added that a Bangladesh backed organization Nobin Bangla has also done postering in Dhubri demanding inclusion of Dhubri district in Bangladesh. He said that these postering indicates that a communal force backed by Bangladesh is active in Dhubri and they are working to destabilize Dhubri. On June 9, the Dhubri district administration-imposed prohibition under BNSS 2023 in Dhubri town following the likelihood of breach of peace and public tranquillity in areas falling under Dhubri police station due to communal tension. The area witnessed tension following recovery of banned meat including a severed cow head from the premises of a Hanuman temple in the town's Ward no 3.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma orders shoot-at-sight amid Dhubri tensions
Following Bakrid celebrations, Dhubri district in Assam faced law and order challenges, prompting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to authorize police to shoot criminal elements on sight, especially after repeated incidents of beef being found near a temple. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Guwahati: With Dhubri district in Assam witnessing law and order issue post Bakrid celebration, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that police is asked to shoot at sight the criminal elements. The town has repeatedly witnessed recovery of beef near a on Friday said this while interacting with a communal force active in Dhubri to disrupt said that the government has issued shoot at sight orders in Dhubri. The chief minister further added that Rapid Action Force and CRPF will be rushed to Dhubri to contain the situation."The law-and-order situation was a little challenging here for the last one week. After the Eid ul Zuha , somebody kept a severed head of a cow in Hanuman temple. Peace committees are formed involving Hindus and Muslims. However, it was repeated the next day again," he said while adding that there were also cases of stone pelting at night, he said, ' From next time onwards I will come to Dhubri before Eid and camp for at least 10 days. Police will shoot at the sight of criminal elements."The chief minister further added that a Bangladesh backed organization Nobin Bangla has also done postering in Dhubri demanding inclusion of Dhubri district in said that these postering indicates that a communal force backed by Bangladesh is active in Dhubri and they are working to destabilize June 9, the Dhubri district administration-imposed prohibition under BNSS 2023 in Dhubri town following the likelihood of breach of peace and public tranquillity in areas falling under Dhubri police station due to communal area witnessed tension following recovery of banned meat including a severed cow head from the premises of a Hanuman temple in the town's Ward no triggered widespread protest in the town and the locals demanded immediate action against the culprits. Although the police and senior district administration officials reached the spot immediately, they faced resistance from the locals, forcing them to impose the restrictions under BNSS were lifted the next day, shimmering tension still continued in the district.
