Assam: More than 150 arrested for Dhubri communal violence, says CM

More than 150 persons have been arrested in connection with the communal tensions that broke out in Assam’s Dhubri town on June 8, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday.

The tensions had erupted after the remains of an animal were discovered near a Hindu temple.

“Our zero tolerance approach, along with apprehending 150 anti-social elements, is working but we are not lowering our guard against communal forces,” Sarma said in a social media post.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader added that his government was mulling setting up a permanent base of the Indian Army “to strengthen the security apparatus in this sensitive district”.

On June 14, Sarma said 38 persons had been arrested for the violence, besides 22 others who were held previously. A day before, he had issued shoot-at-sight orders in the area for nighttime.

The chief minister visited the area for the second time within 10 days on Tuesday, PTI reported.

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”.

During his last visit to Dhubri, Sarma had...

Read more