Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued ‘Shoot-at-Sight’ orders against a communal group in Dhubri that is out to damage Hindu temples. He announced this on Friday after a visit to Dhubri that witnessed communal violence after beef was allegedly thrown at a Hanuman temple on Eid.
“There is a communal group active in Dhubri that is out to damage Hindu temples. We have issued Shoot-at-Sight orders,” Sarma posted on X.
“I visited Dhubri and directed law enforcement officers to follow ZERO tolerance against elements who desecrate our temples, Naamghars and sacred spaces. The incident of throwing beef at the town’s Hanuman Mandir should have NEVER happened, and those involved WON’T BE SPARED,” he posted.
“A new beef mafia has emerged in Dhubri which procured thousands of animals just ahead of Eid. Investigation is underway and the perpetrators will be put behind bars,” he added.
In another post, the chief minister said that if required, he will himself stand guard at Hanuman Baba’s temple all night long during the next Eid.
Communal tension erupted in Dhubri after the discovery of animal remains – suspected to be beef – near the temple on Sunday. Ten persons were arrested in this connection.
While district authorities said the situation was brought under control by Tuesday afternoon, a minister of the state said that the issue is a “symptom” of “calculated demographic transformation of entire regions of India”. The Dhubri district is located along the state’s border with Bangladesh.
According to Dibakar Nath, DC, Dhubri, trouble started on Monday after demonstrations were organised in the town. The situation started getting out of hand after a group pelted stones. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control, he said.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in Dhubri from Monday night. Shops and establishments were closed and gatherings of more than five persons were banned.
