More arrests in Northeast for social media posts on Pahalgam terror attack; Assam CM Sarma warns NSA would be slapped on violators
Nineteen people have been arrested in the northeastern states till Saturday for their 'seditious' comments on the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. Those arrested include AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam and 13 other persons in Assam, four in Tripura, and one in Meghalaya.
On Saturday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said three more persons have been arrested in the state – one each in Hajo near Guwahati city, Hailakandi, and Nagaon.
The Assam chief minister also warned that the National Security Act (NSA) would be slapped against those found directly or indirectly supporting Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in Assam's Cachar district, the police arrested two more individuals on Saturday for posting social media 'content supporting Pakistan'.
The two arrested individuals have been identified as Baktar Hussain Barbhuiya, a resident of Ramnagar under Sonai police station, and Md Imran Hussain Borbhuiya, a resident of Malugram Ganiwala under Silchar police station.
On Friday, CM Sarma had posted on X detailing the arrests made till then for social media comments on the Pahalgam terror attack. He wrote, '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.'
The Assam Police made two additional arrests later on Friday – Md Jarif Ali alias Sharif Sing, 25, and Satra Mukti Sangram Parishad district secretary Anil Bania from Biswanath.
One Md Mustak Ahmed alias Sahel from Sakyut village under Karimganj police station was also nabbed late Friday night for writing 'Pakistan Zindabad' on Facebook.
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, Simon Shylla, 30, was arrested on Thursday from the East Khasi Hills district by a special cell of the state police over a comment on a news channel's video.
Meanwhile, four persons, including a retired teacher, were arrested in Tripura for making 'anti-national comments' online in the context of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said the Centre has intensified efforts to identify Pakistan citizens in the state.
On Friday, the Tripura Police issued an advisory against making misleading social media comments regarding the Pahalgam attack. It said, 'It has come to our notice that certain individuals are circulating provocative and misleading messages on social media. Please be aware that forwarding, sharing, or creating such content is an offence under the law. Stringent legal action will be taken against those involved in such activity. We urge everyone not to pay attention to or forward any provocative and misleading messages. We request all citizens to stay alert and report any such unlawful activity to the Police immediately.'
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