Northeast Sees 19 Arrests Over Anti-India Posts Following Pahalgam Terror Attack. CM Assam Issues Stern Warning
In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist strike in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were gunned down, law enforcement across northeastern India has launched a sweeping crackdown on inflammatory, anti-national, or pro-Pakistan social media content. As of Saturday, at least 19 individuals—including a sitting legislator, a journalist, students, and retired teachers—have been arrested across Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
The coordinated arrests come amid heightened national security measures and growing concerns over digital platforms being used to spread provocative and divisive narratives.
Assam Leads With 14 Arrests Including AIUDF Legislator
Assam has seen the highest number of arrests, totaling 14. The first major arrest came on Thursday with the detention of Aminul Islam, a legislator from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). Islam was booked for sedition over comments suggesting that the Pahalgam and 2019 Pulwama attacks were “government conspiracies.”
He was remanded to four days in police custody on Friday. His statements, which quickly went viral, drew widespread condemnation and triggered further scrutiny of digital platforms for content perceived as anti-national.
Other notable arrests in Assam include:
- Md Jabir Hussain (journalist) from Hailakandi
- Md AK Bahauddin (Assam University student) and Md Javed Mazumder (lawyer) from Silchar
- Md Mahahar Mia from Morigaon
- Md Sahil Ali from Sivasagar
- Md Musta Ahmed alias Sahel, arrested for posting “Pakistan Zindabad” on Facebook
On Saturday, authorities detained Md Jarif Ali, Anil Bania (student activist from Satra Mukti Sangram Parishad), Sumon Mazumdar, and Mashud Azhar for similar offenses in districts including Hailakandi, Nagaon, and Biswanath.
Assam CM Issues Stern Warning
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media platform X to reaffirm the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward pro-Pakistan or anti-India elements.
“My job is clear — to come down hard on Pro-Pakistani and Pro-Bangladeshi elements in Assam and to take stringent action against them,” Sarma stated.
He further warned that offenders could be booked under the National Security Act (NSA) if necessary.
“We are examining all social media posts, and action will be taken against those who, we feel, are anti-national,” he added.
Four Arrested in Tripura, One in Meghalaya
In Tripura, police confirmed the arrest of four individuals, including two retired teachers, for allegedly posting inflammatory content in support of Pakistan following the terror attack. Authorities have refrained from releasing names but indicated that digital surveillance is ongoing.
In Meghalaya, Simon Shylla, a 30-year-old resident of East Khasi Hills, was arrested for making “anti-national comments” on a video broadcast by a Guwahati-based news channel. His arrest adds to the growing tally of detentions linked to online posts in the wake of the tragedy.
Terror Attack Rekindles National Outrage
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on Tuesday, is the deadliest terror incident in Kashmir since Pulwama in 2019, where 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. Gunmen opened fire on a group of Hindu tourists, sending shockwaves across the nation and triggering renewed calls for stringent action against anti-India propaganda, especially on digital platforms.
Legal Implications and Public Response
Most of those arrested face charges under the Indian Penal Code’s sedition laws, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and sections related to promoting enmity and disrupting public peace. The use of the NSA, which allows preventive detention for up to 12 months, is being explored for repeat or serious offenders.
What Comes Next
Authorities across northeastern states have intensified surveillance of social media platforms. Police are encouraging citizens to report suspicious content and remain vigilant.
This coordinated enforcement underlines a broader strategy by state governments to prevent the dissemination of content that may incite violence or foster communal tension in the wake of national tragedies.