Following communal unrest in Assam's Dhubri district, police have arrested 38 people. The arrests were made after tensions flared following the discovery of what was reported to be a cow's head near a Hanuman temple. The incident occurred a day after Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, on June 7th, 2025, triggering an immediate response from local authorities to maintain peace.
The situation escalated when a similar incident occurred the following day, further inflaming communal tensions. Stone-pelting was also reported, heightening the unrest in the area. In response to the escalating situation, the district administration initially imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code on June 9th, restricting public gatherings to prevent further clashes. These restrictions were lifted a day later as the situation appeared to stabilize.
However, the situation remained volatile, prompting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to visit Dhubri on Friday, June 13th, to personally assess the situation. Following a high-level meeting with senior police and administrative officials, the Chief Minister issued a shoot-at-sight order, effective from 6 PM, targeting those who disrupt peace. He stated that the government has directed forces to shoot at sight without delay if anyone disrupts peace.
Sarma alleged that extremist elements from Bangladesh were attempting to destabilize the region, and asserted that such attempts would not be tolerated. He also claimed that a new "beef mafia" had emerged, allegedly importing thousands of cattle into Dhubri from West Bengal ahead of Eid and ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter, vowing to arrest those responsible for the illegal trade.
In addition to the arrests and the shoot-at-sight order, the district administration has reimposed restrictions under Section 188 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), again banning gatherings of more than five people and suspending all commercial activity until further notice. Security has been further tightened in the area, with additional forces deployed to maintain order and prevent further escalation.
The Chief Minister also pointed to the presence of provocative posters put up by an organization called 'Nabin Bangla', which promoted the integration of Dhubri with Bangladesh. He claimed that these elements were attempting to stoke communal discord both online and on the ground.
The state government has also taken administrative action, transferring the district's Senior Superintendent of Police, Navin Singh, and replacing him with Leena Doley, who previously served as the SSP of Hailakandi district.
The swift action by the authorities, including the arrests, shoot-at-sight order, and tightened security measures, reflects the government's commitment to maintaining law and order and preventing further communal unrest in the sensitive border district.
