In a sweeping crackdown across Assam, the state police have arrested nearly 200 individuals and seized over 1.7 tonnes of suspected beef in a decisive move to enforce the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021. The operation, launched on Tuesday, marks one of the largest state-wide actions against alleged illegal cattle slaughter and beef sale in recent times. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh confirmed that the operation spanned almost every district in the state. “The operation started yesterday and we have apprehended 196 people so far. A total of 1,732 kilograms of suspected beef has been seized from various locations,” Singh stated. The search covered 178 hotels, restaurants, and slaughterhouses, with more raids expected in the coming days.
The first day of the operation alone saw 133 arrests and raids on 112 establishments, resulting in the seizure of over one tonne of beef. FIRs have been filed in multiple police stations and several of the arrested individuals are being investigated for suspected violations of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act. While beef consumption is not outright banned in Assam, the 2021 Act restricts cattle slaughter and beef sale in areas predominantly inhabited by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, as well as within a five-kilometre radius of temples or Vaishnavite satras. The legislation was introduced to preserve communal harmony and uphold cultural sensitivities, particularly in regions where such practices may provoke social unrest.
The ongoing crackdown appears to be a follow-up to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s firm warnings issued last month. On June 8, the Chief Minister had voiced concerns over reports of illegal cattle slaughter during Eid celebrations, alleging that meat remains had been found dumped in public areas. In the days that followed, police arrested around 80 individuals in districts including Dhubri, Hojai, Goalpara, and Lakhimpur. Reaffirming the government’s position on June 20, CM Sarma said, “The availability and consumption of beef during the recent Eid festival, despite the ban within a 5-km radius of temples and other places of worship, is a very serious matter. We will take strict action under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act.”