Dhubri, Assam: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday visited Dhubri to take stock of the law and order situation, which has been simmering following recent communal tensions. The unrest was triggered by reports of cattle remains found near a temple during Eid-ul-Adha, prompting strong reactions and several arrests.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister Sarma issued a no-nonsense message on religious sensitivity, calling for the immediate surrender of one Mintu Ali, identified as the main instigator of the beef controversy. “Mintu Ali, the main instigator of the beef controversy, has been identified. He is currently absconding, and his mobile phone has been switched off. I call for his self-surrender,” Sarma stated firmly. He confirmed that 151 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the unrest, adding that while the situation in Dhubri is now calm, the government is chalking out long-term security measures, including plans for an army camp in the area.
In a bid to douse communal fires, Sarma emphasised the sanctity of religious harmony. “People who believe in true Islam do not give cow qurbani in Hindu areas,” he asserted, highlighting that Islamic texts do not specifically mandate cow sacrifice. He also issued a clear warning regarding beef sales, stating, “The shopkeepers should shut down on their own or else the police will go,” confirming that all qurbani-related activities have been halted in Dhubri.
The Chief Minister revealed that a staggering 1,460 cows had entered Dhubri from neighbouring states prior to Eid and announced that action would be taken against officials in the animal husbandry department responsible for this oversight. Furthermore, to safeguard religious sites, a five-kilometre beef-free buffer zone has been declared around Dhubri’s prominent Sikh Gurdwara. “No one can eat beef within five kilometres,” he declared, pledging to personally be present in Dhubri during Eid next year to ensure peace prevails.
Shifting gears to political discourse, Sarma took a swipe at opposition leader Gaurav Gogoi, remarking cryptically, “Gaurav Gogoi’s visit to Pakistan will be announced on September 10,” without elaborating. Addressing persistent political attacks against him, Sarma added, “A lot of people have been trying for 25 years, for my bad days to come.” He also touched upon the Hasila Beel eviction drive, noting, “Evicted people have clicked selfies with me on Hasila Beel, now what to say.”
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister sounded a grave warning about the presence of radical elements in the region. “Several Jihadi organisations and sleeper cells are active in Assam. It cannot be said how much is there until it is caught,” he cautioned, confirming an ongoing investigation into a group named “Nabin Bangla.”