GUWAHATI, May 23: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday welcomed appeals by several Eidgah committees in the state urging the Muslim community to refrain from cow slaughter during the upcoming Eid-ul-Zuha celebrations, saying such “voluntary actions” would strengthen communal harmony in the state.
“Several Eidgah and Kabristhan committees in Hojai, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Udharbond and other places have given an appeal to refrain from cow slaughter during Bakrid, and have also explained the legal and religious reasons behind it,” Sarma said in a post on X.
He welcomed this initiative of “respecting the sentiments of the majority Sanatan community”.
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Sarma maintained that “such voluntary actions will go a long way in strengthening communal harmony in Assam”.
“I hope other Eidgah committees will also issue similar appeals,” the chief minister added.
He also shared news clippings of Muslim communities in Udharbond in Cachar district and Dhubri appealing to avoid cow slaughter during the ensuing Bakrid, or Eid-ul-Zuha, celebrations.
An official statement from Dhubri had said on Thursday that a preparatory meeting was chaired by the District Commissioner, Megha Nidhi Dahal, to discuss arrangements for the upcoming celebrations, scheduled for May 28.
Dhubri had witnessed communal tension following the celebration last year, leading to issuing of shoot-at-sight orders at night in this district bordering Bangladesh.
Dahal urged all departments concerned to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and diligence to ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities across the district.
He directed the health department to station ambulances at heavily crowded venues, and instructed that doctors, nurses and other medical personnel remain on duty at government healthcare facilities throughout the day.
The district veterinary officer was asked to carry out inspection and certification duties as required.
The DC also briefed attendees on the provisions of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, emphasising that it strictly prohibits the slaughter, sale and transportation of cattle without valid permits and except under specific conditions.
He made it clear that no exception or relaxation to the Act would be permitted.
Dahal stressed that since any permissible slaughter must take place exclusively at certified slaughterhouses and there are no such facilities in the district, no cattle slaughter will be permitted within the district.
He urged the representatives of mosques and Eidgahs to inform their respective communities about the provisions of the Act, so as to prevent any untoward incidents.
Senior Superintendent of Police Debashis Borah, also present at the meeting, assured that Dhubri Police would remain fully vigilant and would take prompt and necessary action against any third-party elements attempting to create a disturbance or disrupt communal harmony. (PTI)
