Amid rising tensions after Eid, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered strict enforcement of the Cattle Preservation Act following beef-related incidents near Hindu areas. The state will implement SOPs and survey grazing lands to prevent communal unrest and enforce accountability among district officials.
Amid rising communal sensitivities following the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a stern directive to district administrations across the state to strictly enforce the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, particularly in demographically sensitive areas.
The Chief Minister’s orders come in the wake of multiple incidents involving the discovery of beef near Hindu-majority localities and religious places such as temples and namghars (community prayer halls), especially in the Dhubri district. These incidents have sparked tensions across several regions, leading to heightened communal unease.
Addressing the matter, CM Sarma emphasized the need to uphold religious harmony while respecting legal frameworks. “These incidents have occurred close to temples, namghars, and Hindu-majority areas where beef consumption or slaughter is clearly prohibited within a five-kilometre radius under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act,” he stated.
The Chief Minister held local administrations accountable for the recent flare-ups, pointing out that failure to enforce the law allowed the situation to deteriorate. “Had the law been implemented properly, such tensions could have been prevented. We are now directing all district administrations to enforce the Act strictly and without any exceptions,” Sarma added.
In light of recent events, the state government is in the process of drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for district-level officials. The aim is to provide clear guidelines on managing cattle slaughter regulations in areas with mixed religious populations, particularly during festival seasons.
“The SOP will serve as a preventive framework to ensure that religious sacrifices do not spiral into communal discord,” the Chief Minister said. He further warned that the most stringent provisions of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act would be invoked moving forward to deter future violations.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and order, Sarma reiterated that the ban on cow slaughter within a five-kilometre radius of temples and Hindu settlements will be implemented without compromise. He instructed officials to exercise vigilance and take immediate action in the event of any breach.
In a related move, the Chief Minister also announced a state-wide survey of Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands, citing concerns about illegal encroachments. Reports have emerged about unauthorized occupation of these lands, particularly in tribal belts and sensitive zones like Lakhimpur.
“In districts like Lakhimpur, we’ve found illegal encroachment on VGR and PGR lands, some of which fall within protected tribal areas. We’ve directed the concerned Deputy Commissioners to conduct detailed surveys and take immediate steps to clear such encroachments,” he said.
Sarma concluded his address with a clear message of zero tolerance toward violations of cattle slaughter laws near religious sites, underlining that district officials would be held administratively accountable for negligence.
| Also Read: Manipur Govt deploys security to protect farmers amid rising ethnic tensions |
The recent incidents have already caused considerable public outrage, with local communities expressing concern over potential threats to religious sentiments and social peace. Security has been beefed up in several districts, and state intelligence agencies have been tasked with closely monitoring developments.
As Assam grapples with maintaining communal harmony in a diverse socio-religious landscape, the government’s decision to strengthen law enforcement and policy clarity reflects its intent to prevent future unrest and protect the religious sentiments of all communities.
