Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: Weeks after communal tension prevailed over recovery of suspected beef near temples, police in BJP-ruled Assam launched a crackdown and detained nearly 200 people and seized over 1,700 kgs of suspected beef from eateries since Tuesday.
Police said the state-wide drive began on Tuesday against unauthorised cattle slaughter houses and for selling the beef in violation of the Cattle Preservation Act 2021. Police raided at least 178 eateries and hotels and seized the suspected beef in the past 48-hours.
The Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 was passed by the Assembly months after the BJP and its allies formed the government for the second term and Himanta Biswa Sarma became the CM for the first time. The Act prohibits sale and consumption of beef within a five-kilometer radius of temples and xatras, the Vaishnavite monasteries. Sarma said sale and consumption of beef near temples hurt sentiments of the HIndus.
Communal tension
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 20 said that his government would strictly enforce the Cattle Preservation Act 2021, given the fact that recovery of suspected beef triggered communal tension in at least four districts.
Tension prevailed in Muslim-dominated areas in Dhubri, Goalpara, Lakhimpur and Hojai districts following recovery of cattle heads and bones near temples and xatras.
The chief minister had even ordered a shoot-at-sight order during night in Dhubri saying a certain element was trying to foment communal tension. Police said the drive would continue, while the Opposition parties slammed the same saying its was part of BJP's communal politics ahead of Assembly elections slated early next year.