Is Assam CM Enforcing Cattle Law Amid Communal Tensions?

Guwahati, June 20 (NationPress) In light of heightened communal tensions following Eid celebrations, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has given firm directives to district administrations throughout the state to rigorously implement the Assam Cattle Preservation Act.

This order follows a series of incidents involving the discovery of beef near Hindu neighborhoods and places of worship, particularly in the Dhubri district, which have ignited tensions in various regions.

While highlighting the significance of honoring religious freedoms, the Chief Minister emphasized that legal boundaries must be maintained, especially in areas with mixed demographics.

“These incidents have occurred close to temples, namghars, and areas predominantly inhabited by Hindus where beef consumption or slaughter is forbidden within a five-kilometre radius, as mandated by the Assam Cattle Preservation Act,” Sarma stated.

Accountability for recent flare-ups was placed on district administrations, with Sarma criticizing their failure to intervene promptly despite clear legal guidelines.

“If the law had been properly enforced, these situations could have been averted. We are now instructing all districts to implement the Act rigorously and without exceptions,” he remarked.

To mitigate further communal discord, the state government is developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for district officials to oversee cattle slaughter regulations in mixed-population areas.

“The SOP will act as a framework to ensure that religious sacrifices do not lead to communal strife,” Sarma elaborated, indicating that the most stringent provisions of the law would be enforced henceforth.

Reaffirming the government’s unwavering position, Sarma declared that the prohibition on cow slaughter within a five-kilometre radius of temples and Hindu communities would be strictly upheld.

Additionally, a statewide survey of Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands will be conducted amid reports of encroachments in tribal regions.

“In districts like Lakhimpur, we’ve identified illegal occupation of sensitive lands, including tribal and grazing reserves. We have instructed the relevant deputy commissioners to locate and address such encroachments,” Sarma stated.

The Chief Minister concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to a zero-tolerance approach regarding cattle slaughter violations near religious sites, cautioning that administrative accountability would be imposed in cases of negligence.

The recent incidents of beef found near Hindu religious locations have triggered public outrage and heightened communal tensions in parts of Assam, leading the state to strengthen its enforcement measures.