Guwahati: At least 25 individuals have been arrested or interrogated by the police across three northeastern states—Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya—over controversial comments made on social media following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Among those arrested or questioned are an MLA, a government employee, a retired teacher, a student leader, and a lawyer.
Of the 25 individuals, 16 were from Assam, including All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Aminul Islam. Eight people were arrested in Tripura, while one person was apprehended in Meghalaya.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed in a post on his X handle that three more arrests were made on Sunday, bringing the total number of detained individuals in the state to 16. The latest arrests included Dadhichi Dimple alias Dimple Bora, Tahib Ali, and Bimal Mahato from Golaghat, Tamulpur, and Udalguri police station areas, respectively. Sarma emphasized that those found supporting Pakistan, either directly or indirectly, would face charges under the National Security Act (NSA).
In Tripura, a senior police official revealed that two individuals—a retired teacher and a student leader—were arrested in the Dhalai district’s Ambassa area, while six others are under police surveillance or facing proceedings for making inflammatory comments related to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, a 30-year-old man named Simon Shylla was arrested by a special cell of the Meghalaya Police from the East Khasi Hills district. Shylla had posted an anti-national comment on a video broadcast by a Guwahati-based news channel. Police found two mobile phones in his possession and charged him with criminal conspiracy, promoting religious enmity, and actions threatening national integrity.
Authorities across the northeastern states have strongly warned citizens against posting or sharing controversial or anti-national comments on social media, particularly those related to religion or sensitive matters. Such actions, they said, could lead to ethnic tensions and disrupt law and order. The police also made it clear that stringent legal action would be taken against those found violating these guidelines.
"Certain individuals were 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," the Tripura police said in a statement posted on X.
In their advisory, the police also urged citizens to avoid paying attention to or spreading misleading content. "We request all citizens to stay alert and report any such unlawful activity to the police immediately," the advisory stated.
The Nagaland Police, in a statement issued on Saturday, warned that anti-national forces may use tactics to spread misinformation and propaganda in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, potentially destabilizing peace and order in the region. The advisory highlighted that many posts on social media related to the attack originate from handles linked to Pakistan or its agents. These posts are often circulated by unsuspecting members of the public, unwittingly contributing to the spread of harmful content.
The police have reiterated the need for vigilance and responsible use of social media to prevent the escalation of communal or national tensions.
With IANS inputs