Dhubri: In a decisive move to restore peace in Dhubri district, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday that he has ordered police to implement a “shoot-at-sight” directive against individuals involved in disrupting communal harmony, especially at night.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Dhubri, CM Sarma said, “I have instructed the police to take strict action against those who try to create any disturbance towards upholding communal peace and harmony in the Dhubri district. If required, police will carry out ‘shoot at sight’ order at night towards miscreants to maintain a peaceful situation here.”
The order comes after a week marked by escalating tensions. Sarma noted an alarming sequence of events: two separate incidents involved individuals placing severed cow heads in front of a Hanuman temple—first shortly after Bakra Eid, and again the following day. These provocations sparked stone-pelting and unrest. Additionally, posters calling for parts of Dhubri to be annexed into Bangladesh were discovered pasted across the district.
CM Sarma attributed the unrest to a coordinated campaign aimed at destabilizing peace. He said, “A communal group has been active here to spread unrest, and we have adopted a zero tolerance policy against the same.” Sarma emphasised that both in-person and online elements have been fueling these tensions, especially following recent political developments in Assam and Bangladesh. “A particular section has become extremely active online and on the ground level and is trying to create a planned negative environment,” he added.
Law enforcement agencies have also been urged to intensify door-to-door outreach, engage community leaders, and widely disseminate the “shoot-at-sight” directive to deter potential troublemakers. The Chief Minister praised local peace committees, crediting their earlier intervention for briefly easing tensions, before they flared anew.
Residents of Dhubri, witnessing enhanced police patrolling and proactive outreach, have reported a sense of renewed security and collective resolve to maintain peace. The CM reiterated his pledge to “ensure that the people of Dhubri can live without fear and in communal amity.”
