Assam MLA detained under stringent security law after alleged controversial remarks; video had gone viral on social media
GUWAHATI — The Assam Police have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Aminul Islam, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), following his alleged controversial statement concerning the recent attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Nagaon Superintendent of Police, Swapnil Deka, the AIUDF legislator was taken into custody on Wednesday and lodged in Nagaon district jail under the provisions of the NSA.“We have detained Aminul Islam in Nagaon jail under the National Security Act,” SP Deka confirmed in a brief statement to the media.
The police action follows the circulation of a video featuring Aminul Islam making remarks that allegedly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and appeared to comment insensitively on the Pahalgam attack. The video quickly went viral on various social media platforms, triggering strong reactions and leading to the registration of a case against the MLA.
In response to the video and the public outcry that followed, the police launched an investigation, which culminated in Islam’s arrest and subsequent detention under the NSA.
This development comes in the wake of a broader police operation conducted on 1 May, during which 36 individuals—including Aminul Islam—were arrested across several districts of Assam. These arrests were linked to pro-Pakistan statements and the dissemination of allegedly provocative or misleading content on social media platforms.
Islam, who represents the Dhing constituency in Assam’s Legislative Assembly, was among those apprehended for allegedly inciting communal tension and endangering public order.
A formal case was registered at the Nagaon Police Station under case number 347/25. The charges against Aminul Islam include several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the revised Indian Penal Code, namely Sections 152, 196, 197(1), 113(3), 352, and 353.
Police sources stated that the legislator’s remarks were considered inflammatory and misleading, with the potential to disturb public peace and harmony.
In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Assam Police stated:“Dhing MLA Aminul Islam has been arrested on the basis of his inflammatory statement, which had gone viral on social media. His comments were found to be potentially disruptive to public peace and order. A case has been registered, and he has been taken into custody.”
While state authorities have defended the arrest, civil rights groups and opposition parties are expected to raise questions over the imposition of the NSA—a law that allows preventive detention for up to a year without formal charges.
The AIUDF has yet to release an official statement regarding their MLA’s arrest. However, sources within the party indicated that legal avenues were being explored to challenge the detention, which they described as “politically motivated.”
Legal experts have also weighed in, expressing concern over the growing trend of invoking national security laws in cases involving political speech. “The use of the NSA in this instance must be scrutinised carefully,” said a senior Guwahati-based lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Freedom of speech must be protected, but incitement to violence cannot be condoned. The courts will ultimately have to strike the balance.”
The incident has added fuel to the ongoing debate around free speech, political expression, and the state’s response to criticism in sensitive matters related to national security and communal harmony.
With the matter now under legal scrutiny, and widespread public interest in the case, all eyes are on how the Assam government and judiciary will proceed.
