Five arrested in Assam’s Goalpara for allegedly throwing beef near temple, says CM

The Assam Police have arrested five persons for allegedly throwing beef near a temple in Goalpara in a “deliberate attempt to incite communal tension”, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday.

In a post on X, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said that Bodir Ali, Hazarat Ali, Tara Mia, Shajamal Mia and Jahangir Alom, all residents of Lakhipur, were arrested for attempting to incite tensions after the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Zuha.

“A case has been registered and strict action is being taken to ensure all such elements face the full force of the law,” Sarma said.

This comes after at least 60 persons were arrested over the course of a week in connection with communal tensions that broke out in Dhubri on June 8. The tensions had erupted after the remains of an animal were discovered near a temple.

On June 13, the state government issued nighttime shoot-at-sight orders in Dhubri to bring the situation under control. Sarma had claimed that the animal remains found near the temple on June 8 were part of the head of a cow.

The chief minister claimed that the next day, another severed animal head was found in front of the temple premises, which sparked violence.

Widespread protests had broken out in Dhubri on June 8 morning, with a large number of residents blocking a road...

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