Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a drastic shoot-at-sight order in the town of Dhubri to control spiraling communal tension. The order, announced on Friday, gives security forces the authority to shoot anyone involved in illegal activities, including stone-pelting, in an effort to prevent any further violence.
The severe measure comes after a series of disturbing events that have pushed the communally sensitive town to the brink.
The trouble began on June 8, a day after the festival of Id-ul-Azha (Bakrid), when the severed head of a cow was discovered in front of a Hanuman Temple. In an attempt to prevent unrest, leaders from both the Hindu and Muslim communities met and managed to resolve the matter peacefully.
However, the peace was short-lived. The very next day, a second cow's head was placed at the same spot, a deliberate act that escalated tensions dramatically and suggested a planned effort to provoke violence.
According to the Chief Minister, these incidents are part of a larger, organized conspiracy to destabilize the region. He pointed to several other worrying signs, including the appearance of secessionist posters from a group named 바카라Nabin Bangla바카라, which called for Dhubri to become a part of Bangladesh. Mr. Sarma stated that these events indicate a "Bangladeshi force is at work" in the district.
In response to the crisis, the Sarma has not only issued the shoot-at-sight order but has also directed the police to arrest all known criminals in the district. To support local law enforcement, Central security forces have been deployed to patrol sensitive areas and maintain peace. The government has also vowed to investigate and dismantle a new cattle smuggling network believed to be active in the area.
