Tensions have flared in Assam over the recovery of suspected cattle remains near religious sites, prompting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to announce a tougher enforcement of the state’s cattle preservation law. With 72 arrests made in recent weeks and the opposition accusing the ruling BJP of stoking unrest for political gain, the issue has quickly taken center stage in the state’s political discourse ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Cattle remains near temples and namghars trigger arrests
The controversy began after three incidents were reported in the districts of Dhubri, Goalpara, and Lakhimpur, where suspected cattle remains were discovered near Hindu temples and a namghar — a community prayer hall associated with the Assamese Vaishnavite tradition. These incidents, occurring shortly after Eid ul-Zuha, led to the arrest of at least 72 individuals.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Sarma said the locations of the incidents were “sensitive areas” with religious significance and claimed that there had been arrangements to consume beef nearby during Eid celebrations. He linked the unrest to a failure of local authorities to enforce a key provision of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 — which prohibits the sale or consumption of beef within a 5-km radius of any temple, satra, or other designated religious institution.
Himanta Sarma promises strict SOP for enforcement
Himanta Sarma stated that his government will now draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that no cattle sacrifice takes place within the 5-km buffer zone. He emphasized that the provision — if strictly enforced — could provide a “permanent solution” to prevent future tensions.
Highlighting the religious diversity of areas like Dhubri, which houses one of the country’s prominent gurudwaras alongside several temples, the chief minister said, “If the 5-km provision is implemented, no one can eat or slaughter within Dhubri town.” He also criticised the district administration for not enforcing the law adequately during Eid.
This is not the first time Himanta Sarma has flagged the issue. Last week, he accused certain groups of using beef “as a weapon” to provoke religious sentiments and intimidate Hindu communities.
Congress accuses BJP of using religious tensions for political gain
Reacting strongly to the arrests and Himanta Sarma’s statements, Assam Congress president and MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the ruling BJP of orchestrating communal tension ahead of the elections. He alleged that the people involved in the incidents were being used as pawns by political actors to divert public attention from governance failures.
“There must be an investigation not just into those arrested, but into who planted the idea in their minds,” Gogoi said. Drawing a controversial comparison, he described Himanta Sarma’s strategy as “Jinnah-like politics,” suggesting that the BJP was attempting to create religious polarisation as a campaign tactic.
He went on to say, “Some criminal-minded people within the BJP, RSS, VHP, and Bajrang Dal carry out these actions deliberately before elections. Our job is to ensure Assam does not descend into a communal atmosphere.”
With the state’s political temperature rising and law enforcement tightening, the debate over cattle laws, religious harmony, and electoral strategy is set to remain in the spotlight in the months leading up to the polls.
