Arrests in Assam: India Targets Pro-Pakistan Sentiment Online
Indian police have arrested 81 individuals in the northeastern state of Assam for allegedly expressing support for Pakistan through social media platforms. The move follows heightened hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors last month.
Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a senior figure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), confirmed the arrests via an official statement. “Eighty-one anti-nationals are now behind bars for sympathising with Pak,” Sarma said, adding that the government’s surveillance systems are actively monitoring and responding to online posts deemed ‘anti-national.’
Among those detained was a man who had posted a Pakistani flag on Instagram. Police did not disclose further details about the other individuals or specific charges.
Regional Tensions Following Kashmir Attack
The crackdown comes in the wake of the April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which marked the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in decades. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing the attackers, a claim Pakistan has denied.
The incident escalated into a four-day military standoff—India and Pakistan’s most intense conflict since 1999—before both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10. In the following weeks, India’s counter-terrorism agencies stepped up surveillance and made multiple arrests on espionage charges, including the detention of a paramilitary police officer accused of spying for Pakistan.
At least 10 individuals were arrested in May alone for allegedly engaging in espionage, as Indian authorities ramped up efforts to root out perceived internal threats.
Crackdown Extends to Immigration and Border Security
Alongside the digital crackdown, Assam’s government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal immigration, particularly along its border with Bangladesh. The region has long been a flashpoint due to its porous boundaries and demographic sensitivities.
Local media reports suggest that dozens of people alleged to be illegal Bangladeshi migrants were detained and escorted to the frontier. The Times of India reported that between May 27–29, at least 49 individuals were “pushed back” into no-man’s land, highlighting a hardline approach to border enforcement.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have reportedly deteriorated following a governmental upheaval in Dhaka, which has since leaned diplomatically toward China and Pakistan. This geopolitical shift may be compounding tensions in border regions like Assam.
