The shoot at sight order given by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma created a buzz in political circles of the North Eastern State. Even though opposition parties like Congress and AIUDF cried foul on it, many welcomed the Government decision. But why was such an order necessary in the town bordering Bangladesh? The shoot and sight at night order was issued on June 13 after CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the tension-hit district. The order has been issued seeing the increasing communal tension in Dhubri town after the Eid-ul-Adha celebration. A slaughtered cow head was found in front of a Hanuman Mandir in Dhubri town on June 8. Local Hindu community staged a huge protest after the incident. But the same incident was repeated on June 9. Consequently, a huge number of Hindus came out into the street to protest the incident. Administration apprehended several suspected Islamists and illegal roadside Muslim hotels, who were illegally selling beef, were also demolished. After the administration took action, miscreants started pelting stones in Hindu areas and places of worship. Night curfew was imposed in the town to prevent any unwanted incidents.
After visiting the affected area, CM Sarma said that miscreants have put up posters in public areas supporting inclusion of Dhubri in greater Bangladesh or ‘Naveen Bangla’. A Bangladeshi supported Jihadi module has been active in the district and trying to create panic in the bordering district.
Weaponising Beef
Assam CM Sarma alleged that beef is being “weaponised” against Hindus in the State. Citing instances of pieces of the meat being purportedly thrown in public places and in front of the prestigious cotton university after the Eid, CM Sarma said it has been now a weapon against Hindu community so that they vacate the area and Muslims take over. After the conclusion of June 7 Eid celebrations, dozens of reports came out where Islamist threw beef in Hindu areas, near temples and in front of educational institutes. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also visited the Hanuman Mandir, where the miscreant threw the cow head. “A section of communal forces is trying to destabilise the district which will not be allowed by our Government”, he added. “We can’t let Dhubri go out of hand. Once it happens it will be a trend in the State”, CM Sarma said. He also urged all shop owners to put CCTV in their shops to identify the miscreants. It should be mentioned that Dhubri district bordering Bangladesh became an absolute Muslim majority district in the past 4-5 decades.
In an attempt to vitiate the atmosphere in the State, Islamists put three cattle heads near a revered religious place in Lakhimpur district in Hindu majority North Assam. Hundreds of local people came out in protest of the heinous crime. The unacceptable crime came into light after three cattle skulls were found by locals barely 30 meters from the Siring Chuk Namghar — a sacred place of worship for the Assamese Hindu community.
