"What were the reasons behind the Assam government issuing shoot-at-sight orders in Dhubri?"

The Assam government has issued shoot-at-sight orders during nighttime in Dhubri town after a series of disturbing communal incidents near a Hanuman temple. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement on Friday, following a spike in tensions that erupted after cattle heads were repeatedly found near the temple just after Eid-al-Adha.

The first incident occurred on June 7, the day after Bakrid, when a cow's head was discovered at the Hanuman Mandir in Dhubri. While both Hindu and Muslim leaders initially urged calm, the situation escalated when another cattle head appeared the next day at the same spot. That night, there were also reports of stone-pelting, adding to the unrest.

To bring the situation under control, security forces—including the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)—have been deployed. Although curfew-like restrictions were briefly put in place earlier in the week, they were lifted before tensions flared again.

"This kind of incident should never have happened," Chief Minister Sarma said during a visit to Dhubri. "We are taking a zero-tolerance stance against anyone who desecrates religious places." He accused a “communal group” of deliberately trying to spark violence and disrupt the region’s peace.

Sarma also raised alarms about what he called a “beef mafia,” alleging that thousands of cattle were smuggled into Dhubri from West Bengal ahead of Eid. He claimed this was part of a larger plot by a newly emerging criminal network and called for a full investigation.

Adding to the concern, Sarma pointed to provocative posters allegedly put up by an organization called ‘Nabin Bangla,’ which reportedly promoted the idea of merging Dhubri with Bangladesh. He accused radical groups of using both social media and local provocations to incite conflict.

“I have given the police shoot-at-sight orders during the night. If someone is seen throwing stones and there's any doubt about their intent, officers are to open fire,” Sarma said firmly. He added that if needed, he would personally oversee security during future Eid celebrations.

“We won’t let a section of people hijack peace in Dhubri. Our government is fully committed to ensuring law and order and preventing the town from slipping into chaos,” the Chief Minister concluded.