The Assam government has intensified its ongoing crackdown on alleged “Pakistan sympathisers” across the state, with three more people apprehended on Saturday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the total number of arrests has now reached 76, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives.
Providing updates on the situation, CM Sarma said fresh arrests were made in Nalbari, South Salmara, and Kamrup districts. “Total 76 arrested till now in the crackdown on Pak sympathisers in Assam,” he said in a statement.
Since the Pahalgam terror incident, the Assam Police have been actively pursuing individuals accused of ‘anti-national’ behaviour, including sharing pro-Pakistan content on social media. The state has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards what it terms “anti-India” activities.
Among the high-profile arrests is opposition AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, who was initially detained on sedition charges for allegedly defending Pakistan in the context of the terror attack. Though he was granted bail in the sedition case, Islam was immediately rearrested under the National Security Act (NSA), which allows preventive detention without trial.
CM Sarma had earlier vowed that the crackdown on what he referred to as “traitors” would continue unabated. The campaign has sparked both support and criticism, with the state government defending its actions as necessary for national security, while rights groups have raised concerns about the use of stringent laws to curb dissent.
