Assam: Authorities in Dhubri town have imposed prohibitory orders following rising communal tensions sparked by an alleged incident involving the dumping of animal remains near a temple. The situation escalated on Monday as residents staged demonstrations, prompting police to deploy tear gas to disperse the crowd.
District Magistrate Dibakar Nath issued restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), enforcing an immediate ban on public gatherings and ordering the closure of all shops and marketplaces in the town. The order, passed ex-parte due to the urgency of the situation, will remain in effect until further notice.
“There is credible information suggesting a potential threat to peace and public order within the Dhubri Police Station area,” Nath stated in the order. He emphasized that the situation warranted urgent preventive measures to avoid further escalation.
The unrest reportedly began after a suspected cow head was discovered near a temple on Sunday. In reaction, groups of protestors targeted vendors and e-rickshaw drivers in areas around Dhubri Magistrate Colony and New Market, according to police officials.
Nath, addressing the media, urged residents to stay calm and avoid falling prey to misinformation. “There is no curfew, but all commercial establishments will remain closed. I appeal to all communities to maintain harmony and refrain from any provocative actions,” he said. Emergency services have been exempted from the restrictions.
Security has been significantly tightened, with additional forces from both state and central agencies deployed across the town to maintain order. The district administration also convened meetings between leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities on Sunday, calling for restraint and mutual respect.
During Monday’s protests, police used tear gas to control a volatile situation at one location. No injuries were reported, Nath confirmed, while declining to provide further details.
The tensions come in the wake of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement on Sunday, in which he alleged that illegal cattle slaughter had occurred in various parts of Assam during Eid celebrations on Saturday. Sarma claimed that meat remnants were deliberately scattered in several places, and police have arrested 16 individuals in connection with the incidents.
The situation in Dhubri remains tense, but under control, officials said.
