Mahbubul Hoque, founder of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), was arrested by Assam police from his Guwahati residence. The arrest is linked to a “law and order situation” that arose during the CBSE Class 12 physics exam at a school run by his Education and Research Development (ERD) Foundation in Sribhumi district.
Hoque, a Bengali-origin Muslim from Assam’s Barak Valley, has faced repeated allegations from Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, including claims of running a “fraudulent” university and engaging in “flood jihad.” Sarma previously accused USTM’s construction work of causing flash floods in Guwahati.
Tensions escalated when students in the USTM-run Vision 50 coaching program protested, alleging they were promised assistance during the exam but did not receive it. Police claim a “larger criminal conspiracy” is at play.
Last year, Sarma criticized the university’s architecture, particularly its domed entrance, suggesting it symbolized “Mecca.” He demanded the addition of a namghar and church to reflect religious diversity. Sarma also threatened legal action against Hoque over an OBC certificate issue from 1992.
The arrest has sparked concerns over political targeting and the increasing hostility faced by minority-run educational institutions in Assam.
