Ten people have been arrested in Assam as part of a nationwide crackdown on the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday. The arrests were made during a massive operation led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which carried out raids at 26 locations across five states—Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir.
“Today, Assam Police, led by the NIA, has arrested 10 members of an Islamic terrorist organisation,” Sarma posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In a joint operation between the NIA and Assam Police, nine individuals were apprehended from Goalpara district, while one was arrested in Hojai district, according to a senior police officer. All the suspects are currently in NIA custody as investigations continue.
Speaking on the sidelines of an official program, Chief Minister Sarma emphasized the ongoing threat posed by radical elements in Assam. “These arrests prove once again that the threat to Assam is real. A section of people often dismisses these concerns, but every time, the truth comes to light,” he said.
Sarma also criticized the opposition Congress party, accusing it of defending such elements whenever Assam faces a security threat. “Whenever the NIA acts against radical forces, arrests are made in Assam, and the opposition chooses to protect this ecosystem,” he alleged.
The Chief Minister pointed to recent incidents, such as slogans raised by encroachers during an eviction drive in Kochutoli, Kamrup district, as evidence of radical elements influencing local communities. “These events indicate that the indigenous people of Assam could face deep uncertainty over the next 10-15 years if such activities continue unchecked,” Sarma warned.
The Kochutoli eviction drive had recently turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two people in police firing.
(With inputs from PTI)