Guwahati, Assam – In a startling revelation, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has flagged a significant surge in foreign-linked social media activity, asserting that hardcore Islamic fundamentalist elements are actively attempting to manipulate the state’s political narrative. The Chief Minister stated that a forensic audit is underway to ascertain the full extent of this alleged infiltration.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma detailed that approximately 5,000 Facebook accounts have been activated in the past month, many of which are observed to be disseminating content in favour of Iran, Palestine, and Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. He emphasised that these accounts notably do not follow mainstream national political figures like Rahul Gandhi or the Indian National Congress, but instead demonstrate a singular focus on pages pertaining to Assam, a particular political leader, and the Assam Congress’s activities.
A preliminary study of 2,092 Facebook profiles has already indicated a substantial foreign origin, with 618 accounts traced to Bangladesh, 236 to Pakistan, two to Palestine, six to Brazil, one each to Canada and Colombia, six to Egypt, 54 to France, four to Germany, 16 to Indonesia, eight to Iraq, three to Italy, 10 to Jordan, 88 to Kuwait, one to Libya, 35 to Afghanistan, four to Albania, and two to Australia. Sarma unequivocally characterised the users of these accounts as belonging to a “particular community” and described them as “very hardcore Islamic fundamentalists.” He further added that these are not merely politically active profiles but are also “promoting radical Islamic content that does not align with the ethos of Assam’s indigenous Muslim community.”
The Chief Minister confirmed that the forensic investigation remains ongoing, with further disclosures expected in the days to come, underscoring the gravity of the situation for the state’s political landscape and communal harmony.
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