Pork thrown into mosque sparks outrage in northeast India

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A mosque in northeastern Indian state of Assam has become the site of religious provocation after raw pork was thrown into its premises—an act widely condemned as an attempt to incite hatred against Muslims in the region.

The incident occurred earlier this week in Guwahati’s Panjabari area, at an Eidgah mosque located along Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Path in Puran Basti. When the imam arrived for early morning prayers, he discovered a polythene-wrapped packet containing raw pork tossed into the mosque compound.

Surveillance footage revealed a man in a blue shirt and helmet arriving on a two-wheeler, hurling the packet over the wall before fleeing the scene. 

Inside the transparent bag was not only raw pork but a handwritten note in Assamese, laced with anti-Muslim slurs and signed with the name “Plabita Das.” A mobile number was also scribbled on a separate slip of paper.

The note used the term “Miya,” a label for Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam that has been weaponized as a slur in political and social discourse. Community leaders say the language and symbolism of the act were clearly designed to offend religious sentiments and inflame tensions.

Police have arrested a suspect identified as Mridupawan Pathak from Barpeta, based on CCTV evidence. Authorities have classified the case as “highly sensitive” and are examining leads related to the mobile number.

The state’s chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, responded to the outrage by condemning the act. However, in doing so, he made a controversial remark, alleging that some had previously attempted to “weaponize beef” by placing it near Hindu temples.

“We must also ask—what happens if pork is placed in mosques to provoke Muslims?” he said, framing both actions as unacceptable provocations. His claim, lacking evidence, has drawn criticism for equating past incidents involving Muslim communities with the current episode of anti-Muslim targeting.

This is not the first time religious sites in Assam have been at the center of such tensions. Just last month, unrest broke out in Dhubri district after suspected cow meat was allegedly found near a Hanuman temple.

In response, Sarma issued a shoot-at-sight order—sparking alarm among rights groups who warned against its potential misuse.

While police in Guwahati have urged the public to remain calm, members of the Muslim community are demanding greater protection of religious sites and swifter justice. 

Many see this latest incident as part of a broader climate of rising Islamophobia in Assam, where Muslims—especially those of Bengali origin—have long faced systemic marginalization and hate campaigns.