Police have arrested at least 19 people in Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya over remarks about the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Navy officer and an Intelligence Bureau officer. Most arrests were linked to controversial social media posts. In Assam alone, authorities made 14 arrests so far.
Arrest of Assam MLA Sparks Action
The first arrest happened on Thursday. Assam police detained Aminul Islam, an MLA from the opposition party All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). They charged him with sedition after he claimed that both the 2019 Pulwama attack and the Pahalgam attack were “conspiracies by the government.” On Friday, a court sent him to police custody for four days.
Following this, police arrested more individuals across Assam. These included Md Jabir Hussain from Hailakandi, journalist Md AK Bahauddin, law student Md Javed Mazumder from Silchar, Md Mahahar Mia from Morigaon, and Md Sahil Ali from Sivasagar.
Additionally, authorities arrested Md Musta Ahmed, also known as Sahel, in Karimganj on Friday night. He had posted “Pakistan Zindabad” on Facebook.
Students, Journalists, and Lawyers Among Those Held
The arrested individuals came from diverse backgrounds. Jabir Hussain worked as a journalist. Bahauddin studied computer science at Assam University in Silchar. Meanwhile, Javed Mazumder practiced law.
On Saturday, the police widened their crackdown. They arrested 25-year-old Md Jarif Ali and student leader Anil Bania, the district secretary of Satra Mukti Sangram Parishad, from Biswanath. Officers also picked up Sumon Mazumdar, also known as Bulbul Alom Mazumdar, from Hailakandi, Mashud Azhar from Nagaon, and another individual from Hajo near Guwahati. Police accused them of posting “anti-India comments” online.
Moreover, Cachar district police arrested two more people for sharing social media posts that allegedly supported Pakistan.
Assam CM Warns of Tougher Action
Reacting to the situation, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “If required, we will impose provisions of the National Security Act on them. We are examining all social media posts, and action will be taken against those who, we feel, are anti-national… There are no similarities between Bharat and Pakistan. The two countries are enemy nations and we must remain that way.”
Arrests in Tripura
Meanwhile, Tripura reported four arrests related to similar online comments. In Dhalai district, police arrested retired teacher Jawhar Debnath and another individual named Kuldip Mandal. Both had made “anti-national comments” in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. In North Tripura district, officers arrested retired teacher Sajal Chakraborty from Dharmanagar. Authorities also detained Jahirul Islam from Sonamura in Sepahijala district.
Arrest in Meghalaya
In Meghalaya, police arrested 30-year-old Simon Shylla on Friday. He was taken into custody from the East Khasi Hills district after posting an “anti-national comment” on a news video aired by a Guwahati-based channel.
