CM Himanta Orders Crackdown After 108 Cows Seized in Assam Raid
Synopsis
Kamrup Police recovered 108 cows from an alleged illegal slaughterhouse in Bezera Simelibari, Assam, linked to three named individuals. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed one arrest and vowed strict action, framing the intelligence-driven raid as part of a sustained crackdown on unlicensed cattle slaughter across the state.
Key Takeaways
108 cows were recovered from premises in Bezera Simelibari, Kamrup district during an intelligence-backed raid.
Three individuals — Saifuddin Ahmed, Mehtab Ali, and Mehbub Ali — are accused of running a full-scale unlicensed slaughterhouse.
One suspect has been apprehended ; two others have fled and remain at large.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the operation on August 9, 2026 , pledging 'strict action' against all accused.
The action falls under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950 , which mandates certification for any lawful cattle slaughter.
The raid is part of a broader, repeated pattern of anti-illegal-slaughter enforcement by the BJP-led Assam government .
A raid in Bezera Simelibari in Assam's Kamrup district has exposed what authorities are calling a 'full-scale slaughterhouse' — and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is making clear this is only the beginning of a wider enforcement push against illegal cattle slaughter in the state.
Kamrup Police recovered 108 cows from the premises linked to three individuals — Saifuddin Ahmed, Mehtab Ali, and Mehbub Ali — who are alleged to have been operating the unlicensed facility. One person has been apprehended; the other two have fled and are being pursued. CM Sarma posted directly on Sunday, August 9, 2026, tagging both Kamrup Police and Assam Police and declaring: 'We will NOT ALLOW any form of illegal slaughter in Assam.'
What the Bezera Simelibari Operation Uncovered
The operation was described as 'source backed' — meaning it was intelligence-driven rather than a routine patrol. The scale of the recovery, 108 cattle on a single premises, signals an organised operation rather than an opportunistic one. Authorities say the three named individuals were running the facility at a commercial level, making this a targeted enforcement action rather than a minor local seizure.
The legal framework in play is the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, which regulates cattle slaughter in the state and requires certificates for any permissible cases. Operating outside that framework carries criminal liability, and CM Sarma has signalled that 'strict action' will follow against all those named.
A Pattern of Raids Across the BJP-Led State
This is not an isolated incident. The Assam government under CM Sarma has conducted repeated crackdowns on unauthorised slaughterhouses as a consistent plank of its law-and-order agenda. Cattle protection has been a defining policy posture of the BJP-led administration in the Northeast, with Assam often serving as the operational template for the region.
The two absconding accused now become the immediate flashpoint — whether Assam Police can secure their arrest will determine how this enforcement moment translates into legal outcomes. Watch also for any follow-up directives expanding similar source-backed operations to other districts across the state.
One raid, three names, 108 animals — and a Chief Minister who has put his personal authority behind the message that the crackdown is not slowing down.
Point of View
Personally announced enforcement actions that reinforce the BJP's cattle-protection credentials in a politically sensitive state. By naming the accused publicly and tagging the police handles, Sarma is applying political pressure on the force to secure the two absconding suspects quickly. The scale of the recovery, 108 animals from a single site, suggests organised networks rather than isolated actors, raising the question of whether Assam's enforcement machinery will move upstream to dismantle supply chains or remain at the level of individual raids. How the legal proceedings unfold will test whether these operations translate into durable deterrence or remain primarily a political signal.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Assam cattle raid on August 9 2026?
Kamrup Police conducted an intelligence-backed raid in Bezera Simelibari and recovered 108 cows from premises allegedly used as an illegal slaughterhouse by Saifuddin Ahmed, Mehtab Ali, and Mehbub Ali. One suspect was arrested; two fled.
What law governs cattle slaughter in Assam?
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950 regulates cattle slaughter in the state and requires official certification for any permissible cases. Operating without such certification is a criminal offence.
Who ordered the crackdown on illegal slaughter in Assam?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly backed the operation, posting about it directly and stating that illegal slaughter will 'NOT be allowed' in the state, with strict action promised against all accused.
Are the accused in the Bezera Simelibari slaughterhouse case in custody?
As of CM Sarma's post on August 9, 2026, only one of the three accused has been apprehended. Saifuddin Ahmed, Mehtab Ali, and Mehbub Ali are named; two remain at large and are being pursued by Assam Police.
Is Assam conducting multiple raids on illegal slaughterhouses?
Yes. The BJP-led Assam government has carried out repeated enforcement operations against unauthorised slaughterhouses as part of its broader law-and-order and cattle-protection agenda across the state.
