Assam CM Orders ‘Shoot At Sight’ In Dhubri After Beef Row Near Temple; Blames ‘Bangladeshi Fundamentalists’

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Dhubri region to assess the volatile situation following the communal unrest triggered by the discovery of suspected cattle remains near a Hanuman temple.

File Photo of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Source : PTI

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a strict ‘shoot at sight’ directive to law enforcement agencies in Dhubri town following the communal unrest triggered by the discovery of suspected cattle remains near a Hanuman temple. Himanta Sarma posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, “A particular group has become active in Dhubri with the intention of damaging our temples. We have issued SHOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS.”

धुबरी में एक विशेष वर्ग हमारे मंदिरों को क्षति पहुंचाने की नीयत से सक्रिय हो चुका है।

We have issued SHOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS. pic.twitter.com/DDYqe0Xe1f

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 13, 2025

According to India Today NE, the Chief Minister visited the region on Friday to assess the volatile situation and chaired a high-level review meeting with top officials at the Circuit House.

In preparation for his visit, the district police deployed heightened security measures across Dhubri. Addressing the media after the meeting, Himanta added that the directive targets all illegal activities, including incidents of stone pelting, effective from Thursday night.

CM Sarma also instructed officials to arrest all “tainted criminals” in the district and alleged foreign involvement in the unrest. “Dhubri has been targeted by fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh,” he asserted, adding, “I will never allow this to happen”, India Today NE reported.

Ten Arrested, Prohibitory Orders Withdrawn After Tensions Ease In Dhubri

As per The Indian Express, the unrest began on Sunday after the alleged discovery of “cow meat” near the temple. Demonstrations on Monday escalated into violence, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse protestors. The district administration responded by invoking prohibitory orders across Dhubri town, citing the risk of riots and disruption to public order.

Shops were shut down, public gatherings of more than five people were banned, and rallies were disallowed. However, by Tuesday afternoon, Dhubri Deputy Commissioner Dibakar Nath confirmed the situation had stabilised, with the prohibitory orders lifted. He told The Indian Express, “Things have come under control with the prohibitory orders and the sufficient deployment of police and CRPF, and we have been able to revoke the order this afternoon. We have formed peace committees in all critical areas and are engaging with the community through them. Ten people have been arrested in connection with Sunday’s incident and the investigation is ongoing.”

Assam Minister Blames Demographic 'Imbalance' For Dhubri Tensions

Earlier, Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal took to X to link the violence to larger demographic concerns, stating, “What is happening in Dhubri today isn’t sudden. It’s the direct result of decades of ignored patterns, deliberate policies, and the political silence of the Indian National Congress and AIUDF in pursuit of vote-bank politics.” He further alleged, “The forced demographic imbalance, once ignored as a ‘local issue’, now stands as savages hell-bent on the annihilation of the Hindu faith and our way of life, posing a serious threat to Assam and the rest of India.”

Dhubri district lies along Assam’s border with Bangladesh and has historically witnessed communal flashpoints. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while maintaining a strong security presence in sensitive areas.