Assam Congress leader arrested for social media post; CM Himanta defends police action

Party MP Gaurav Gogoi said law enforcement agencies are being misused for political purposes

GUWAHATI

An Assam Congress spokesperson was arrested from his residence in Guwahati over his alleged objectionable social media comment on a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and his family.

The police acted against Congress leader and lawyer Reetam Singh on a complaint lodged by the MLA, Manab Deka’s wife at a police station in northeastern Assam’s Lakhimpur district. He was taken to Lakhimpur.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, in a post on X said the case pertains to a caste-based insult directed at a Dalit woman.

Mr. Sarma responded to criticism from Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, asserting, “If you justify calling the husband of a Dalit woman a rapist as a ‘perfectly reasonable’ social media post, it speaks volumes about the direction in which you people have taken the Congress party.”

“But, just wait—the big revelation is yet to come - The nexus of your senior leader with ISI and Pakistan will be exposed by September,” Mr. Sarma added, referring to the police case against Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who is claimed to have links with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn.

Mr. Gogoi accused the BJP-led Assam government of misusing the police to settle political scores. He also noted that the “brutal” action against Mr Singh coincided with Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Assam to inaugurate a police academy.

“I want to ask him (Mr. Shah) if he is aware of the misuse of police under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma,” he said, asking whether the Home Minister was aware of “BJP thugs” not being arrested despite beating up two Assam police constables a few days ago.

Mr. Gogoi said the Chief Minister was “forcing the State police to adopt illegal activities” in conflict with the law and the high court. “The track record of police officers is being spoilt by the political motivations of Himanta Biswa Sarma,” he posted on X.

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee referred to a December 2017 judgement by the Madras High Court that a complaint of criminal defamation cannot be made directly to the police and that the latter has no authority to register a first information report based on such a complaint unless directed specifically by a judicial magistrate.

“The police action is also questionable given a similar judgement by the Gauhati High Court,” the party said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Singh posted on X alleging that the police personnel were trying to force their way into his house despite his repeated requests to see a notice or search warrant under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

(With PTI inputs)

Published - March 15, 2025 10:15 pm IST