FIR Lodged Against Journalist Abhisar Sharma in Guwahati Over Alleged Anti-Government Video

The Guwahati Crime Branch has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against journalist and YouTuber Abhisar Sharma after a formal complaint alleged that one of his videos mocked both the Assam state government and the Union government. The case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), invoking sections 152, which deals with sedition, along with sections 196 and 197. These provisions broadly pertain to offences against the state, endangering sovereignty, disturbing harmony, and making statements prejudicial to national integrity.

The FIR was lodged following a complaint submitted by 23-year-old Alok Baruah, a resident of Nayanpur in Ganeshguri, Guwahati. Baruah alleged that Abhisar Sharma, in one of his YouTube videos, directly targeted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and accused him of engaging in communal politics. According to the complaint, Sharma further mocked the principle of “Ram Rajya” and argued that the government thrives solely on “Hindu-Muslim polarisation” as its political survival strategy.

The complainant maintained that Sharma’s remarks were not only critical but were made with mala fide intent. Baruah argued that the purpose of the video was to malign the democratically elected governments—both at the state and central level. In addition, he claimed that the content of the video was designed to provoke communal sentiments, thereby creating distrust among citizens toward lawful authorities. The complaint stressed that such statements could encourage division within society and harm the credibility of governing institutions.

The FIR further highlights that Sharma’s video has already begun to influence the public conversation at a local level. In Baruah’s own locality, the video has sparked intense discussions, raising concerns that it might create tensions, disturb peace, or disrupt communal harmony in the area. Authorities view this development as evidence that the remarks, left unchecked, could escalate into a larger disturbance that threatens law and order.

From the law enforcement perspective, the police underlined that the allegations fall within the ambit of serious offences under the BNS. They pointed out that Sharma’s comments amount to actions endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India. Moreover, the remarks were viewed as attempts to promote enmity between different groups on religious grounds and as assertions that are prejudicial to the broader principle of national integration. By mocking governance through the lens of communal politics and linking it to religious polarisation, the police believe the video undermines the social fabric and could encourage hostility among communities.

This case reflects the sensitive balance between freedom of expression and state laws designed to safeguard national unity and peace. On one hand, Sharma, being a journalist and YouTuber, operates in a space where critique and commentary on politics are routine. On the other hand, the authorities argue that his choice of words and framing in this particular video cross the boundary of lawful criticism and enter the domain of incitement and provocation, with potential to destabilise society.

In conclusion, the FIR against Abhisar Sharma underscores the Assam government’s strict stance against content that it perceives as threatening to peace, order, and integrity. With the investigation underway, the case could become a significant test of how India’s new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita laws are applied in the context of online speech, political critique, and alleged communal provocation.