Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the media in Guwahati, warning of strict action against those expressing support for terrorists online after the Delhi blast. (Express Photo)
Arresting 15 people for social media posts since the car explosion in Delhi on Monday, police in Assam have begun a crackdown similar to the one they carried out after the terror attack in Pahalgam in April this year.
The 15 people were arrested between Wednesday and Thursday across 10 districts in Assam.
In the crackdown following the Pahalgam attack, the Assam Police had arrested at least 97 people over two months for posts and comments ranging from those that supported Pakistan and others deemed offensive to Hindus to ones suggesting that the attack was a “conspiracy” linked to elections. Several of those arrested had been slapped with section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to “acts endangering the sovereignty unity and integrity of India”, a charge similar to “sedition” under the earlier Indian Penal Code (IPC).
This time, too, the arrests are being made along similar lines. Following the blast in Delhi, Wajhul Kamal, a resident of Rangiya in Kamrup district, put up a Facebook post claiming that terror attacks always take place when elections are around the corner. A police official from Kamrup district confirmed that he was arrested for the now-deleted post and that he had been booked under BNS section 152 and section 147 (waging war, attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war against the Indian government), among other charges.
A remark along similar lines had been made by Matiur Rahman, a resident of Darrang district, in a comment on a post about the Delhi blast, and he too was arrested on Wednesday.
The Assam government has suggested that these arrests will continue.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that his government “identified” 34 people and that he has issued instructions to the police to arrest those “who are expressing support to terrorists”.
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“After the Delhi blast, you have understood one thing — education doesn’t mean that somebody won’t be a terrorist. All these days in our Legislative Assembly, it was being said that because they are falling behind in education, they are being used for different purposes. But we have seen from the events in Delhi that these were not done by uneducated people, but educated people have done jihad. And after educated people have done jihad, instead of condemning, one section of people in Assam have been putting smileys and thumbs-up and expressing support in various ways,” the CM said.
Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges.
Expertise and Experience
Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts.
Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities.
Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East.
Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for:
Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms.
Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More
