Assam: 38 more arrested after communal violence in Dhubri
Thirty-eight more persons were arrested overnight in connection with communal tensions that broke out in Assam's Dhubri town on June 8, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.
The tensions had erupted after the remains of an animal were discovered near a Hindu temple.
The arrested individuals have been booked under non-bailable offences, India Today NE reported on Saturday.
The arrests were in addition to the 22 persons the police on Friday confirmed to have held.
Sarma had told reporters on Friday that he visited the area to review the situation and had issued shoot-at-sight orders for nighttime.
'Whoever will create disturbance, we will shoot them,' he had said, adding that the Rapid Action Force and the Central Reserve Police Force had been deployed in Dhubri.
The chief minister also claimed that the animal remains found near the temple were part of the head of a cow.
'The day after Bakri Eid [on June 8], some persons kept a severed cow head in front of a Hanuman temple,' claimed Sarma. 'Representatives of both the communities met thereafter, a peace committee meeting was held and the conflict seemed to have been resolved.'
The chief minister claimed that the next day, another severed animal head was found in front of the temple premises, which sparked violence.
Widespread protests broke out in Dhubri on June 8 morning, with a large number of residents blocking a road adjacent to the temple. They shouted slogans and burnt tyres as part of their demonstration.
They also prevented the police from removing the remains of the animal, insisting that it must remain untouched until 'those responsible are identified and arrested'.
As the demonstrations continued till Monday, Deputy Commissioner Dibakar Nath issued orders prohibiting five or more persons from gathering in Dhubri town. The administration had also banned rallies, processions, meetings and demonstrations.
The situation was brought under control by Tuesday and the prohibitory orders were withdrawn.
On Friday, the chief minister claimed that a day before Bakri Eid, which was celebrated on June 7, a poster showing Dhubri to be part of Bangladesh was found in the town. Sarma alleged that a group was attempting to spread tensions in the area.
Dhubri shares a border with Bangladesh.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had said on June 8 that 16 persons were arrested in the state for allegedly slaughtering cattle illegally on Bakri Eid.
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