16 arrested in Assam over alleged illegal cattle slaughter during Eid
Guwahati: A total of 16 people were arrested for "illegally" slaughtering cattle during Eid a day ago, said chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday. He said cattle parts were recovered from multiple locations across Assam, including near Cotton University in Guwahati
Five illegal slaughter sites were found in two districts of Barak Valley — Gumrah, Silchar, and Lakhipur in Cachar district, and Badarpur and Banga in Karimganj district.
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The CM, in a post on his X handle, wrote: "While our Constitution guarantees the right to religious freedom, it equally upholds the rule of law and public order. This Eid-ul-Zuha, disturbing incidents of illegal cattle slaughter and recovery of cattle parts were reported from multiple locations across Assam."
Sarma said nine arrests were made in Cachar and seven in Sribhumi district, with additional reports of cattle parts being found in Dhubri, Hojai, and Sribhumi, as well as near Cotton University in Guwahati.
The CM said the state govt is committed to "preserving communal harmony, but not at the cost of lawlessness or cruelty". "Please be clear that strict action will be taken against all violators — irrespective of faith or background," he added
Meanwhile, people from the Hindu community blocked roads in Hojai on Sunday, alleging that pieces of meat were deliberately thrown by miscreants in certain areas on Saturday night, a police officer said.
While beef consumption is not illegal in the state, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, prohibits cattle slaughter and beef sales in majority-Hindu, Jain, or Sikh localities, as well as within a five-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).
On Sunday, a large number of people from the Hindu and Muslim communities came out in Hojai to hold protests separately. They blocked roads and clashed with the police, the officer said.
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"While the Hindus blocked roads in the Barpukhuri area, where suspected cattle meat pieces were found at three places on Saturday, Muslims also came out and blocked a road at Bhuyanpatty as a countermeasure," he said.
A section of the mob at Bhuyanpatty clashed with the police, prompting officers to use "mild lathi-charge" to disperse the protesters. However, the situation was brought under control with additional security forces deployed in the area.
In Guwahati, police said some pieces of meat wrapped in a polythene packet were found near the Cotton University. The sample has been sent for forensic testing. "No comment can be made until reports are available," the police said.
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