Beef-throwing not new: Himanta Biswa Sarma cites 1993 Bongalmora victim’s ordeal

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday took to the social media platform X to strongly condemn what he called a “deliberate and long-standing pattern” of provocative acts aimed at instilling fear among Hindus, including the throwing of beef near temples and homes.

In a sharply worded post, Sarma stated: “The beef-throwing incident isn’t new to Assam. Certain elements of a community have been doing it for years to instill a sense of fear amongst Hindus. Congress has always condoned these acts — be it in 1993 or 2025; BJP doesn’t tolerate this.”

The Chief Minister attached a video testimony of a victim from the 1993 Bongalmora incident. 

The man, whose house was attacked, narrated in detail the events of April 5, 1993, when alleged miscreants from a particular community stormed his home at around 9:30 PM at night.

According to him, the group caused widespread property damage, looted religious items from a nearby temple including an idol of Lord Krishna, gold and silver artifacts, and musical instruments used in devotional gatherings.

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“We were not allowed to chant Naam, play Doba or hold Prasanga,” the man said. “They threw beef near our toilet regularly. Their message was clear — we are here to burn your house.”

He further alleged that despite his victimization, he was wrongfully arrested after the miscreants distributed a leaflet branding him as a communal provocateur.

“The then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia visited Bangalmora once, and without any proper investigation, ordered my arrest solely based on false allegations. I had no choice but to leave the place,” he said.

CM Sarma’s remarks come amid renewed tensions over reported incidents of beef throwing in religiously sensitive areas. The BJP-led government has taken a firm stand against such acts, calling them deliberate provocations.

In contrast, the Chief Minister accused the Congress party of turning a blind eye. “This culture of appeasement has emboldened such acts for decades,” Sarma said.