Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announces the arrest of two more individuals for anti-Hindu posts on social media, bringing the total to 97. Among those arrested is AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, who made controversial remarks on terror attacks. The crackdown has sparked political and social debate in Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday the arrest of two more individuals for allegedly sharing objectionable content targeting the Hindu religion on social media platforms. This brings the total number of people detained in the recent crackdown on “anti-national and anti-Hindu” activities in the state to 97.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Anisur Rehman and Farijul Islam. Rehman was taken into custody in the Tinsukia district, while Islam was arrested by police officials in the Nagaon district.
Chief Minister Sarma took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to inform the public about the latest arrests. “Crackdown on Anti-Hindu elements continues. @TinsukiaPolice arrested Md Anisur Rehman for sharing an objectionable content on Hinduism. @nagaonpolice arrested Farijul Islam for a derogatory comment on Lord Ram,” he posted.
In a follow-up statement, the Chief Minister added, “Ninety-seven anti-national and anti-Hindu culprits behind bars now,” signaling the scale of the crackdown on content that the government deems derogatory or inciting communal tension.
Prominent Arrest: AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam
Among those detained, one of the most high-profile individuals is Aminul Islam, a sitting legislator from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). Islam, who represents the Dhing constituency in Assam’s Nagaon district, was arrested on May 1 under sedition charges for making provocative remarks about recent terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
Islam came under fire after a video surfaced on social media in which he claimed that both the Pulwama attack of 2019 and the recent Pahalgam terror strike were part of a larger “government conspiracy.” In the Pahalgam incident, terrorists opened fire, killing 26 people in a shocking act of violence.
In the viral clip, Aminul Islam stated, “Six years ago in Pulwama, when the RDX blast happened and 42 soldiers died, I said on that day that the Pulwama blast happened at the behest of a conspiracy of the Central government, and it was a conspiracy to win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.”
He further alleged that the narrative surrounding the Pahalgam attack — where it was claimed that terrorists selectively targeted Hindus — was false and part of a divisive political agenda. “The victims said that the terrorists opened fire without asking about anybody’s name, and I doubt that the nexus which was involved in the Pulwama attack in which RDX was used, is behind the Pahalgam incident,” he claimed.
Islam went on to say that if the Central government does not conduct a fair investigation, “I would believe that this incident happened because of a conspiracy.”
AIUDF Distances Itself from MLA’s Comments
In a bid to contain the political fallout, AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal quickly distanced the party from Islam’s controversial statements. Ajmal emphasized the party’s alignment with national interest, stating, “AIUDF stands with the government. The terrorists have no religion, and those who spread terrorism are against Islam.”
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The developments come amid heightened political sensitivities in Assam, a state known for its complex communal and ethnic makeup. The BJP-led government in Assam has maintained a strict stance on matters it views as threats to religious harmony and national security.
Broader Implications
The arrests and subsequent political statements underscore the growing scrutiny over online speech and its implications for national security and communal harmony. As the state tightens its grip on social media content deemed inflammatory or seditious, questions arise about the balance between freedom of speech and national unity.
With 97 arrests so far and the state government showing no signs of relenting, the crackdown on what Chief Minister Sarma calls “anti-Hindu elements” is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
