In response to escalating communal tensions following incidents of temple desecration, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued "shoot-at-sight" orders in Dhubri district. The order aims to curb further unrest after repeated acts of provocation, including the discovery of a severed cow head near a Hanuman temple, inflammatory posters, and incidents of stone pelting.
The Chief Minister visited Dhubri on Friday, June 13, 2025, to personally assess the situation and announced the stringent measures. He has instructed the police to shoot on sight anyone found indulging in violence or stone pelting, particularly after 6 pm. Sarma emphasized a "zero-tolerance" approach towards those attempting to disrupt communal harmony and desecrate religious spaces.
The series of events leading to this decision began after Bakri Eid, with a disturbing rise in communal incidents. Provocative posters by an organization named Nabin Bangla, advocating for the merger of Dhubri with Bangladesh, were found in sensitive areas, including Army installations. The most provocative incident involved the placement of severed cow heads near a Hanuman temple, sparking outrage and escalating tensions. Although an initial peace committee meeting temporarily calmed tempers, a second similar incident reignited communal anxieties.
To reinforce the crackdown, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) units are being deployed in the district. Senior state police officers will also be stationed in Dhubri to oversee operations. The Chief Minister has directed the issuance of non-bailable warrants against all identified perpetrators, vowing to act with full force to prevent Dhubri from becoming a hub of communal unrest.
Sarma has linked the current situation to the emergence of a beef trafficking nexus, stating that a new beef mafia procured thousands of animals ahead of Eid. Investigations are underway, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
In a strong emotional appeal, Sarma expressed his commitment to maintaining peace in Dhubri, promising to personally spend the night of Eid in the district, even near the Hanuman Mandir if necessary, to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. He has also urged the business community to install CCTV cameras outside their shops to help identify miscreants.
The district administration had previously imposed prohibitory orders, closing shops and banning gatherings, after demonstrations led to stone pelting and police intervention. While authorities claimed the situation was under control, tensions remained high, prompting the Chief Minister's visit and subsequent orders. Sarma has also asserted that Dhubri has been targeted by fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh, vowing to prevent any such influence.
