Assam MLA, a student, retired teachers and a lawyer among those arrested. The move appears to be part of a broader effort to suppress critical opinions and silence voices that challenge the government's narrative
NEW DELHI — In a concerning display of intolerance, authorities in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura have arrested at least 19 individuals, including students, retired teachers, a lawyer, a journalist, and a state legislator MLA, for their critical remarks on the recent terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The arrests, largely based on social media posts, raise serious questions about the government’s commitment to protecting free speech and dissenting voices. The crackdown appears to be part of a broader effort to suppress critical opinions and silence voices that challenge the government’s narrative.
Fourteen of the arrests took place in Assam alone, media reports said on Sunday.
The first arrest came on Thursday when Aminul Islam, an MLA from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) — an opposition party in Assam — was arrested and charged with sedition for his statement that the Pulwama attack in 2019 and Tuesday’s Pahalgam attack were “conspiracies by the government”. He was sent to police custody for four days on Friday.
The other arrests in Assam till Friday included Jabir Hussain from Hailakandi, AK Bahauddin and Javed Mazumder from Silchar, Mahahar Mia from Morigaon and Sahil Ali from Sivasagar. Musta Ahmed alias Sahel from Karimganj was arrested on Friday night for an objectionable post on Facebook. Hussain is a journalist, Bahauddin is a computer science student at the Assam University in Silchar and Mazumder is a lawyer, the reports said.
On Saturday, the police arrested 25-year-old Jarif Ali and Anil Bania, the district secretary of a student body, Satra Mukti Sangram Parishad, from Biswanath. Sumon Mazumdar alias Bulbul Alom Mazumdar was arrested in Hailakandi, Mashud Azhar in Nagaon and another person was arrested from Hajo near Guwahati — all for making “anti-India comments” online.
The Cachar district police also arrested two more individuals for posting “content supporting Pakistan” on social media.
In Tripura, there have been four arrests so far, including those of two retired teachers.
Jawhar Debnath, a retired teacher and one Kuldip Mandal were arrested for making “anti-national comments online” in the context of the Pahalgam terror attack in Dhalai district. Another retired teacher, Sajal Chakraborty, was arrested from Dharmanagar of North Tripura district and Jahirul Islam was taken into custody from Sonamura in Sepahijala district.
In Meghalaya, a 30-year-old man named Simon Shylla was arrested on Friday from the East Khasi Hills district after he posted an “anti-national comment” on a video telecast by a news channel from Guwahati.
The sedition and other charges against the activists are a stark reminder of the government’s tendency to silence opposition voices.
The arrests have sparked concerns about the authorities’ willingness to stifle dissent and curtail freedom of expression. By targeting individuals for their opinions, the government is creating a culture of fear and intimidation, where people are hesitant to express their views.
The government’s actions have been defended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has warned that those making “anti-national” comments will face action, including the possibility of being charged under the National Security Act. However, critics argue that this approach is an overreach of power and a threat to democratic values.
As the government continues to crack down on dissenting voices, it is essential to recognise the importance of protecting free speech and promoting a culture of open debate and discussion. The arrests in Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in defending our democratic rights and freedoms.
