5 held in Assam's Goalpara for throwing beef in front of temple

Guwahati: The police in Assam's Goalpara district have arrested five people for their involvement in throwing beef in front of a temple.

"The police in Goalpara' s Lakhipur area arrested the five suspects charging them with deliberately attempting to incite communal tension post Eid-ul-Zuha," Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on his X handle.

The accused were identified as Bodir Ali (57), Hazarat Ali (58), Tara Mia (36), Shahjamal Mia (42) and Jahangir Alom(32).They are residents of Ward No. 10, Khakilamari, under Lakhipur police station in Goalpara district.

"A case has been registered and strict action is being taken to ensure all such elements face the full force of law," the Chief Minister said.

Five instances of cattle parts being thrown in front of temples were reported in Assam following Eid Ul Zuha. These parts were found near Cotton University (Kamrup Metropolitan), Dhubri, Hojai, and Sribhumi (Bagargool) and five illegal slaughter sites were uncovered in Cachar.

Following the police action, the situation in Dhubri district turned volatile and the district administration had to impose prohibitory orders. The police arrested 38 people from Dhubri alone for trying to create communal disharmony in the area.

The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 banned cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in a majority and within a 5-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).

The Act also regulates transportation, and slaughter of all cattle, and the sale of beef and beef products in the state.

In December last year, the Assam cabinet decided to amend the Act and clamped restrictions on public consumption of beef. This led to a ban on sale and consumption of beef in public places such as restaurants and hotels.