27 arrested in Assam for ‘defending Pakistan' after Pahalgam attack: CM Himanta Sarma
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, 27 persons have been arrested in Assam for ' defending Pakistan on Indian soil', Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.
In a social media post, the chief minister called those who had been arrested as 'anti nationals' and 'traitors'.
Among those held was Opposition All India United Democratic Front MLA Aminul Islam, who was arrested on Thursday, for allegedly defending the terror attack. He was charged with sedition. The remarks by the legislator, which were widely shared online, had the 'potential to create an adverse situation', the police alleged.
Justifying Islam's arrest, Sarma was quoted as saying on Saturday that he 'will do this again'.
'I will take any action against such people,' he added.
#Update on Crackdown against traitors for defending Pakistan on Indian soil- 22:30 hrs | 28.04
1️⃣Dark King arrested by @KokrajharPolice
2️⃣Abdul Mukit arrested by @sribhumipolice
3️⃣Tahib Ali arrested by @TamulpurPolice
27 Anti Nationals nabbed till now. #PahalgamTerroristAttack https://t.co/hJFwsQeCXG
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 28, 2025
Sarma had also said that anybody in Assam found to be ' directly or indirectly ' supporting Pakistan would be charged under the National Security Act.
The Act allows for long periods of detention without trial and suspends important rights of the accused person, including the right to legal representation and immediate information about the cause of the arrest.
The Uttar Pradesh Police also booked satirist Madri Kakoti and a Bhojpuri singer Neha Singh Rathore on charges of sedition for making allegedly objectionable remarks on social media about the April 22 terrorist attack.
The terror attack at Baisaran near Pahalgam town on April 22 left 26 persons dead and 17 injured. The terrorists targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion, the police said. All but three of those killed were Hindu.
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