15 Arrested in Assam for Social Media Posts Supporting Delhi Blast
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says police will act tough against those glorifying terror online
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that at least 15 people have been arrested across the state for allegedly posting messages on social media supporting the recent Delhi Red Fort blast.
“In connection with the offensive social media posts following the Delhi blasts, 15 persons have been arrested across Assam so far,” Sarma said.
Police said the arrests were made in multiple districts after suo motu cases were registered. On Tuesday, a retired school principal in Cachar district was detained for allegedly making a politically motivated remark about the blast and was later released after being served a notice, according to Cachar SP Partha Pratim Das.
Those arrested include Mattiur Rahman of Darrang, Hassan Ali Mondal of Goalpara, Abdul Latif of Chirang, Wajhul Kamal of Kamrup, and Nur Amin Ahmed of Bongaigaon.
Sarma said the state police would continue to act against anyone attempting to “spread hatred or glorify terror” online. Besides the 15 arrests, at least 24 more “terror sympathisers” have been identified across the state.
“The list includes individuals from Kamrup, Barpeta, Golaghat, Darrang, Bongaigaon, Cachar, and several other districts. Many deleted their posts after learning about the arrests, but screenshots have been preserved as evidence,” he said.
The chief minister alleged that instead of condemning the Delhi attack, some people tried to “disrupt the situation” by posting supportive emojis and comments.
“After such a horrible act, instead of condemning it, many reacted with smiles, thumbs up, and supportive comments. These are the same people who protested against the government’s rice and pulse subsidy,” Sarma said.
He further claimed that a “particular section” of people was repeatedly trying to “destroy the community through bombs, bullets, or protests.”
Sarma added that the Delhi blast showed terrorism is no longer confined to the uneducated. “There was a time when we believed that only the uneducated were drawn to such acts. But that’s no longer true,” he said.
