A tense atmosphere gripped Madanpur village in Assam’s Sribhumi district after locals discovered a severed head of a cow along with other slaughter waste placed atop the donation box of a Hindu temple on Friday morning, the day after the Bakrid.
According to reports, residents of the village under the Ramkrishnanagar subdivision were shocked upon noticing the grisly remains in front of the Shiv Mandir early on Friday. They immediately informed the police, after which the police promptly reached the spot at around 10 AM, removed the severed head and other waste materials, and initiated an investigation. Authorities suspect the incident was a deliberate attempt to disturb communal harmony in the area.
Videos shared on social media show the severed cow placed on the donation box placed in front of the temple.
Local residents expressed strong outrage over the desecration of the Hindu temple, with many gathering at the temple premises. The discovery has triggered widespread concern and anger among the community, particularly in the sensitive border region. No arrests have been reported so far, but police have begun probing possible motives and are checking for CCTV footage or eyewitness accounts if available.
The severed head was found a day after Eid al-Adha, and it is suspected some Muslims deliberately placed the severed head of a cow which was sacrificed on the Islamic festival. Despite attempts to curb slaughter of cows, the sizable Muslim population in the state continue the practice for meat and religious rituals.
This incident follows a pattern of similar provocative acts reported across Assam in recent times. These include cow slaughter waste being dumped on highways and outside several temples, raising fears of orchestrated attempts to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere.
Senior police officials have appealed for calm and assured residents that the matter is being taken seriously. The district administration is monitoring the situation closely to prevent any escalation.
