Himanta suggests Army base at Dhubri as Assam CM makes 2nd visit to border district after communal tensions

During a visit to Dhubri on Tuesday, Sarma alleged the involvement of “external forces” and a communal group working to cause unrest in the town.

In a post on social media Tuesday, he wrote: “Our zero tolerance approach, along with apprehending 150 anti-social elements, is working. But we are not lowering our guard against communal forces. We are also exploring the option to set up a permanent base of the Indian Army to strengthen the security apparatus in this sensitive district.”

As part of the strict measures taken in the aftermath of the tensions, Sarma had announced during a visit to Dhubri on June 13 that nighttime shoot-at-sight orders would be issued. The Assam Police also launched a wide net of arrests, beyond people involved in the temple incident and subsequent clashes. As many as 38 people, who police said had non-bailable warrants against them in other cases, were arrested the night after Sarma’s June 13 visit. Before that, a total of 22 people had been arrested in connection with the communal tensions of June 8 and 9.

During Tuesday’s visit, CM Sarma announced that a total of 150 people have been arrested since the tensions began. Dhubri SSP Leena Doley, who was transferred to the district as part of a major reshuffle of police officers in the district after Sarma’s last visit, said that these 150 include a broad range of “trouble-makers”.

“There are a total of nine FIRs registered in connection with the incidents that took place earlier this month. A section of the 150 arrested are in connection with these FIRs. Some are troublemakers connected to drugs and cattle thefts. Others are those who have warrants issued against them by courts,” she told The Indian Express.

Sarma said Tuesday that an individual named Mintu Ali had been identified as “the mastermind” behind leaving the suspected cattle remains in the temple complex. “He has been identified but is on the run. We have found his mobile phone too. We expect that he will surrender very soon,” he said.