Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said 38 people were arrested in Dhubri district, where shoot-at-sight was ordered at night in the wake of communal tensions.
In a post on X, CM Sarma said, “38 arrested overnight in the Dhubri beef head incident.”
According to the chief minister, a cow’s head was found in front of a Hanuman temple in Dhubri town on Eid on June 7.
The next day, a cow’s head was again kept in front of the temple and stones were thrown at night, Sarma added.
People reportedly protested in Dhubri town on Sunday (June 8) after pieces of meat were found near a temple.
The district administration on June 9 imposed prohibitory orders in the town, but lifted them the next day after the law and order situation improved.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (June 13) visited Dhubri to review the situation.
During his visit to the town, the chief minister said that a shoot-at-sight order had been issued at night as an outfit was trying to create disturbances in the district bordering Bangladesh.
Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF personnel will be deployed in the district and all criminals in Dhubri will be arrested, he said.
“All those who have taken the law into their hands will be dealt with severely,” the chief minister said.
The law and order situation in Dhubri has been challenging for the past one week, he added.
He said an outfit, called ‘Nabin Bangla’, had put up posters in the district, seeking to merge Dhubri with Bangladesh.
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He said, “A communal group has become active in Dhubri to create disturbances and after coming to know about it, I have come to Dhubri and there will be shoot-at-sight orders in force at night in the district.”