At least eight people, including an Opposition MLA, have been arrested across Assam so far for online posts on the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday. Of the eight, six were held on Friday, while two others, including AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam, were arrested the previous day. Meanwhile, one person in Meghalaya and two in Tripura were also held over online posts on the attack that left 26 people dead. Detailing the arrests in Assam, Chief Minister Sarma posted on X: “Assam will not tolerate any individual who, directly or indirectly, supports or defends Pakistan in connection with the heinous attack in Pahalgam. So far, the following individuals have been arrested by @assampolice for directly or indirectly promoting the cause of Pakistan in Social media •Hailakandi – Md. Jabir Hussain, •Silchar – Md. A.K. Bahauddin, Md. Javed Mazumder, •Morigaon – Md. Mahahar Mia @ Md. Mujihirul Islam, •Nagaon – Md. Aminul Islam, •Sivasagar – Md. Sahil Ali. Further arrests are underway as part of our ongoing crackdown”. Assam Police later made two additional arrests: Md. Jarif Ali, 25, and Satra Mukti Sangram Parishad district secretary Anil Bania. Hussain is a journalist, Bahauddin is a computer science student of Assam University, Silchar, Mazumder is a practicing lawyer and Bania is a student leader. In Meghalaya, 30-year old Simon Shylla was arrested Thursday from East Khasi Hills district by a special cell of Meghalaya Police over a comment on a news channel’s video. He was charged with criminal conspiracy, promoting religious enmity and actions threatening national integrity. In Tripura’s Dhalai district, two people including a retired teacher were arrested for online comments on the Pahalgam terror attack. A senior official of Tripura Police said that a case was booked under different sections of the BNS at Ambassa police station.
