Authorities in India have apprehended numerous individuals for allegedly expressing support for Pakistan, just a month after one of the most serious conflicts between the two nations in decades, a senior government official stated on Sunday.
The arrests occurred in the northeastern state of Assam, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reported that “81 individuals deemed anti-national have been detained for their sympathies toward Pakistan.”
Sarma, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, mentioned in a statement, “Our systems are actively monitoring anti-national posts on social media and taking appropriate action.”
One individual was taken into custody for displaying a Pakistani flag on Instagram, according to Assam police, as reported by AFP.
No additional information about the other arrests has been provided.
There has been a significant increase in social media surveillance since the deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, which was the most lethal assault on civilians in the area in decades.
New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for allegedly supporting the militants involved in the attack, accusations that Pakistan has denied.
Following this incident, India and Pakistan engaged in a four-day conflict, marked as their most severe standoff since 1999, until a ceasefire was reached on May 10.
Chief Minister Sarma is also advocating for measures to address the contentious issue of illegal immigration.
Assam borders Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim nation, with a long and porous frontier.
Reports from Indian media indicate that the Assam government has reportedly rounded up dozens of individuals believed to be from Bangladesh over the past month and has escorted them to the border for expulsion.
According to The Times of India, Assam was allegedly “dumping them in no-man’s land,” noting that at least 49 individuals were pushed back between May 27-29.
The Assam government has not commented on these allegations.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have soured, particularly after the overthrow of the Dhaka government last year, leading Bangladesh to strengthen ties with both China and Pakistan.
