Guwahati: Authorities in Assam’s Dhubri town imposed prohibitory orders on Monday in response to escalating communal tensions triggered by the alleged discovery of meat near a temple, officials confirmed.
Protests erupted in the town earlier in the day, prompting police to deploy tear gas to disperse demonstrators and prevent further unrest.
The situation remained tense but under control.
Dhubri District Magistrate Dibakar Nath issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), enforcing immediate restrictions to maintain law and order.
The order bans gatherings of five or more people in public places, and all shops and markets within town limits have been instructed to close until further notice.
“There is a high likelihood of a breach of peace and communal violence,” Nath stated in the order, which also prohibits rallies, processions, public meetings, or demonstrations. Movements related to emergency services are exempt.
Due to the urgency of the situation, the order was issued ex-parte, without prior individual notice.
On Sunday, a suspected cow head was reportedly found near a temple, sparking outrage.
In the aftermath, a mob allegedly attacked vegetable vendors and e-rickshaw drivers in areas around Magistrate Colony and New Market, police said.
District authorities held emergency peace talks between leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities on Sunday to ease tensions.
Nath urged the public to stay calm and indoors, saying, “There’s no need to panic. Please avoid spreading or reacting to rumours. Mutual respect between communities is essential.”
While denying the imposition of a full curfew, Nath described the measures as a “semi-curfew” due to the scale of restrictions.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma commented on the incident, stating that several cows were allegedly slaughtered illegally during Eid on Saturday, and meat was reportedly thrown at different locations across the state.
Police have arrested 16 individuals so far in connection with these incidents.
