Guwahati, Assam: In a move that has stirred public concern, five individuals were arrested in Goalpara’s Lakhipur on Sunday for allegedly dumping a severed cow head near a prominent Kali temple shortly after Eid-ul-Zuha celebrations. The accused — Bodir Ali (57), Hazarat Ali (58), Tara Mia (36), Shajamal Mia (42), and Jahangir Alom (32) — have been charged under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Authorities fear this act may trigger communal tensions in the area.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, responding to the development, condemned the incident and called it a “deep-rooted conspiracy”. Speaking from Dibrugarh, he stated, “Assam’s social harmony has long been under threat. These incidents are not isolated — they require continuous, decisive action.”
The incident came to light when the Lakhipur Police recovered the cow remains from the road leading to the Daspara Kali temple. Officials acted quickly to remove the remains and initiate an investigation.
In a commendable move, local Muslim leaders strongly condemned the act. The President of Lakhipur Jama Masjid reported that a community meeting was held, emphasizing zero tolerance for such divisive acts. Local beef vendors were also asked to refrain from selling meat within a 5 km radius of temples — a gesture towards preserving peace.
This comes days after similar arrests in Dhubri, where cow parts were dumped at temple sites. The CM earlier warned against the “weaponisation of beef”, calling such acts deliberate provocations to disrupt Assam’s harmony.
Read Also: