Assam MLA held for panic, rumours over social media
Conspiracy to kill people kept in quarantine, says Dhing legislator
Taking a tough line against those engaged in rumour-mongering and spreading false information about the coronavirus, the Assam police on Tuesday arrested a legislator on sedition charges and remanded him to judicial custody for making provocative and communal remarks, besides posting false, fabricated posts on the social media on the coronavirus disease and treatment of patients at state isolation centres.
Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said Mr Aminul Islam, Dhing MLA, of All India United Democratic Front, was booked under Indian Penal Code sections and arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy and spreading disaffection among communities.
In an audio clip that has gone viral, Mr Islam claimed a conspiracy was being hatched to kill the people kept in quarantine. Mr Islam, representing Dhing in central Assam’s Nagaon district, also said quarantine centres in Assam were worse than the detention camps for illegal immigrants.
Taking a tough stand against those engaged in rumor mongering and spreading false information about coronavirus, Assam police on Tuesday arrested a legislator on sedition charges and remanded him to judicial custody for making provocative and communal remarks besides posting false fabricated posts in social media on coronavirus disease and the treatment of patients at isolation centers in the state.
Assam director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that Aminul Islam, the Dhing MLA from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), has been booked under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy and spreading disaffection among communities, among others.
In an audio clip that has gone viral in the social media, Mr Islam claimed that a conspiracy is being hatched to kill the people who are kept in quarantine. Mr Islam who represents Dhing constituency in central Assam’s Nagaon district, had also claimed that the quarantine centres in Assam were worse than detention camps for illegal immigrants. The AIUDF legislator was also trying to propagate that nobody from the Nizamuddin Markaz event has tested positive for coronavirus.
Mr Islam who is known for his inflammatory speeches, also came down heavily on media and said that both national and regional, have been trying to malign the image of
the Muslim community in the country. “See the name of the first infected patient in India. See the names of all other patients. Are they all Muslims?” he argued.
Accusing Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of trying to politicise the issue, Mr Islam had also alleged that the minority people have been targeted and tortured in various camps set up by the state government to offer quarantine facilities.
Assam police picked up Mr Islam from Dhing on Monday night and arrested him on Tuesday morning after interrogation.