Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, June 13, 2025, issued a shoot-at-sight order in the communally sensitive Dhubri town following escalating tensions sparked by repeated acts of cow desecration near a Hanuman temple. The town, located approximately 290 km west of Guwahati, has witnessed heightened communal strain since June 8 — a day after Id-ul-Azha (Bakrid) — when a severed cow head was found outside the temple.
Although initial tensions were defused through community dialogues, the situation worsened when another cow head was placed at the same spot the very next day, prompting the Chief Minister to take stern action.
“I have ordered a shoot-at-sight in Dhubri if any kind of untoward situation happens. The order is applicable for any illegal activities, including stone-pelting,” Mr. Sarma said while addressing the media after visiting the area.
The Chief Minister directed the police to immediately arrest all known criminals in the district and asserted that Dhubri had long been a target for fundamentalist elements from across the Bangladesh border.
To maintain peace and order, central security forces have been deployed in sensitive zones. Mr. Sarma alleged that there is a deliberate and organised attempt to incite communal violence, citing the appearance of secessionist posters across Dhubri, including on an Army infrastructure, calling for the district to be made part of Bangladesh. The posters were allegedly signed by a group named Nabin Bangla.
“This is a part of a larger campaign to disturb communal harmony and territorial integrity. A Bangladeshi force appears to be orchestrating these events,” he stated.
He also pointed to a rising trend of cattle smuggling from West Bengal into Dhubri, indicating the involvement of a new criminal network. “We will investigate who is behind this racket,” the CM added.
Dhubri has a Muslim-majority population — around 74% as per the 2011 Census — largely consisting of Bengali-speaking Muslims, adding a demographic dimension to the volatile atmosphere.
The situation in Dhubri remains tense, with authorities on high alert and both state and central security forces working to prevent any escalation.
