Assam cops arrest AIUDF MLA for treason as Himanta urge Hindus-Muslims to rally against Pakistan

Guwahati: Assam Police Thursday arrested MLA Aminul Islam of the opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) on charges of treason, a day after he claimed that the Phalagam massacre was a "conspiracy by the central government" to incite religious discord and linked it to the Pulwama suicide bombing of 2019 that left 40 Crpf personnel dead.
Police filed a suo motu case against the legislator from Dhing constituency for what cops described as a "misleading and instigating statement" delivered by him in a video that went viral on social media with the potential to create an adverse situation.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state govt is taking strong action against everyone who is directly or indirectly trying to support or trying to defend Pakistan.
"One of our MLAs from AIUDF, Aminul Islam said certain things yesterday which has angered people of Assam. I have reviewed the video and I have seen that that video has been posted in a manner to defend Pakistan and its complicity in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam. I have instructed Assam Police to take strong action against him and the DGP has informed me that he has been arrested and he has been booked for sedition. We'll take this case to the logical conclusion,' Sarma said.
While calling upon Hindus to remain united, he said, "Ek rahenge toh safe rahenge (we will be safe if we stay united), before urging people from all faiths to unite in the fight against terrorism.
"Hindus and Muslims have to fight terrorism together and punish countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh," he said.
Sarma said if some people living in Assam were indirectly supporting Pakistan they would not be spared.
Sarma said those who attempt to justify, normalize, or dilute the brutal murder of innocent civilians are not exercising freedom of expression, but are standing against the soul of India.
He said action against the MLA is one such example and warned "we can go further, and we'll hunt down each and everybody whoever tries to support Pakistan directly or indirectly. And this is what we have conveyed in strongest possible terms to my police and also to the other law enforcing agencies."
Aminul Islam was also booked under charges of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and other acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Islam made contentious remarks calling for an autonomous investigation into the Pahalgam incident, suggesting that if the government declined, it would substantiate Modi and Shah's participation in a planned scheme.
The MLA dismissed accounts suggesting that the terrorists questioned tourists about their religious affiliations during the Pahalgam incident, which conflicted with testimonies from the bereaved families.
Sarma added that Assam govt is also concerned about Bangladesh following its "recent hobnobbing with Pakistan."
"So, we have alerted our security agencies to watch whatever is going on across the border and also remain vigilant. However, we directly do not share any land borders with Pakistan. So that is why I think our concern regarding Pakistan may not be that high in comparison to the state of Kashmir or Punjab or Rajasthan or Gujarat. However, we remain alert," he said.
Meanwhile, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal said Islam's statements were his personal views and not that of the party. "The comments made by Aminul Islam are unfortunate. This is the time to stand with our govt. Terrorists have no religion. These terrorists are giving Islam a bad name," Ajmal said.
He added AIUDF had already condemned the terrorist attack.