Severed Cattle Head Discovered in Lakhimpur, Raising Communal Tensions
Incident Overview
Lakhimpur, June 18: On Tuesday, a severed cattle head was discovered near a Naamghar in Chiring Chuk, a village located south of North Lakhimpur. This incident echoes recent communal tensions observed in Dhubri and Goalpara.
The remains were hidden in a bag among ferns close to the Naamghar, situated about 8 kilometers from the district's main hub.
In connection with this case, Lakhimpur Police have apprehended seven suspects. Those arrested include Monsur Ali and Razak Ali from Debera Rangchali; Sahar Ali, Dilwar Hussain, and Dildar Hussain from Deobeel Christian village; along with Abu Kalam Ali and Jahidul Islam from Chukulibhoria.
Residents of the area have voiced significant alarm regarding the incident, suspecting it to be a calculated effort to disrupt the region's long-standing communal peace.
Villagers condemned the act during a press interaction, calling for tranquility and urging the community to resist divisive tactics.
They characterized the event as a potential scheme by individuals with ulterior motives aimed at inciting communal discord.
One elder from the village remarked, “This is an attempt to sow seeds of discord among communities who have lived together peacefully for generations.”
The local populace has requested that the police and district authorities carry out a comprehensive investigation to ensure that those responsible face justice.
This incident marks the first of its kind reported in Upper Assam.
Similar provocations have previously occurred in the western Assam districts of Dhubri and Goalpara, leading Assam's Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh to hold a high-level review meeting in Dhubri on Tuesday.
In response to ongoing provocations—including the discovery of a severed cow head near a Hanuman temple, inflammatory posters, and nighttime stone-pelting incidents—Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a stringent “shoot-at-sight at night” directive on June 13 to avert further unrest.
The state government has pledged to implement robust measures to maintain peace and communal harmony throughout Assam, asserting that any attempts to instigate division will be met with firm action.