GUWAHATI — The Assam Police have arrested two more individuals, both Muslims, in an ongoing crackdown on social media activity in the wake of the Pahalgam attack in April, taking the total number of arrests to 92, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, reported the Swarajya.
The two men arrested have been identified as Sabikul Islam and Dulal Bora. Announcing their arrest on X , Sarma wrote, “Anti-Hindu elements nabbed! Crackdown continues,” and added, “Total 92 culprits behind bars.”
The state government claims that the arrested individuals are involved in “anti-India” and “pro-Pakistan” activity online. However, rights activists and community leaders argue that the police are exploiting the post-Pahalgam atmosphere to unfairly target and criminalize Muslim youths across the state.
Most of those arrested since the crackdown began are Muslims, raising serious concerns about communal profiling and misuse of law enforcement powers. Families of several detained individuals have alleged that their relatives were picked up merely for sharing posts or opinions on social media that were perceived as critical of the government.
Earlier, Aminul Islam, a sitting MLA from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), was arrested on sedition charges after making remarks interpreted as defending Pakistan in the context of the Pahalgam terror attack. Although he was granted bail by a court, the police later booked him under the National Security Act (NSA), allowing for prolonged detention without trial.
Chief Minister Sarma has reiterated that the “state-wide crackdown on traitors will continue and nobody will be spared,” reinforcing what many fear is a deliberate policy to suppress dissent, especially among the Muslim minority.
In recent months, Assam has emerged as one of the leading states in terms of arrests related to digital expression, particularly targeting those questioning official narratives or expressing political views seen as controversial.
Human rights organizations have urged the government to stop using the tragic Pahalgam attack as a pretext to clamp down on Muslims and silence freedom of expression, warning that such actions threaten the democratic fabric of the nation.
