Protests Erupt in Assam Following Lynching Incident in Bangladesh

Arrests Made Amid Growing Unrest

Guwahati, Dec 24: In response to escalating protests in Assam regarding the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, law enforcement has apprehended three individuals across various districts for allegedly endorsing the violent act on social media.

The arrests took place in Kamrup, Sribhumi, and Gauripur in Dhubri, as demonstrations against the incident and the worsening conditions for minorities in Bangladesh persisted throughout the state on Wednesday.

In Kamrup district, police detained Mohammad Shaif Akhtar Ali from Rangia town on Tuesday for allegedly sharing supportive content related to the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh.

This arrest was initiated following a complaint from Hindu organizations. A police officer stated, “An FIR was filed at the Rangia police station based on the complaint, leading to the youth's arrest after a preliminary investigation.”

Authorities reported that Ali had shared a video of the lynching on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, along with posts that endorsed the act.

In Gauripur, Babul Hussain, a resident of Baniyamari Sixth Block village, was arrested for allegedly disseminating provocative content on social media that supported extremist factions in Bangladesh.

According to police, Hussain had uploaded videos that seemingly endorsed communal violence against Hindus, including graphic depictions of killings and victims being burned after being tied to trees.

The Gauripur Police have detained Hussain for further questioning, as investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether he acted alone or had connections to organized extremist groups.

Meanwhile, in Hailakandi, Izazur Rahman Laskar, a 19-year-old from Gamoria village in Sribhumi district, was arrested for allegedly sharing an inflammatory video on Instagram that attempted to justify the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh on communal grounds.

Laskar faces charges under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to inciting enmity between groups, actions detrimental to national integration, and statements likely to disturb public order.

As police actions continue, protests against the lynching and concerns regarding the safety of minorities in Bangladesh have intensified across Assam.

In Tezpur on Wednesday, numerous organizations and local residents participated in demonstrations, urging stringent action and a decisive response from Indian authorities.

Similar protests were also reported on Tuesday in Sonitpur, Bijni, Jagiroad, Hojai, Lahorighat, Margherita, Hailakandi, and Nalbari.

With inputs from various sources.