Assam Man Arrested for Allegedly Sharing Contacts with Bangladesh-Based JMB Outfit

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on August 27 that one person was arrested in Dhubri district for allegedly providing contact numbers of several local residents to the banned extremist outfit Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The accused, Ali Hussain Bepari, an Indian citizen, acted as the primary conduit supplying phone numbers to JMB operatives, who in turn used them to contact individuals with the intent of radicalizing them. This is not his first encounter with the law, as he had been arrested earlier but was later released on bail. Sarma confirmed that police are in the final stages of their investigation and more details will emerge soon.

The Chief Minister accused JMB of attempting to create unrest in Assam and warned that strict action would be taken against anyone aiding such extremist groups. He added that security surveillance has been tightened in Dhubri and South Salmara, two border districts with Bangladesh. While South Salmara has been peaceful over the past five years, recent disturbing activities in Dhubri have raised concerns. As a precautionary measure, Sarma announced the continuation of night shoot-at-sight orders during Durga Puja to ensure law and order.

On another note, Sarma addressed the controversial statement made by former Planning Commission member Sayeeda Hamid, who suggested that Bangladeshis could live in Assam. He stated that no FIR will be lodged against her, reasoning that filing one would only enable her to raise funds nationwide to fight the case, which would “enrich her.” However, he cautioned that if she visits Assam again, the government will take necessary legal action. He also criticized such individuals for indirectly furthering Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of integrating Assam into Pakistan by legitimizing illegal infiltrators.

Speaking on infiltration, Sarma highlighted that although no Bangladeshi had been deported since the Assam Agitation about four decades ago, the current government has been actively pushing back 70–100 people every week who attempt to illegally enter India. He reiterated that Assam and the entire Northeast have long been exploited as a corridor by infiltrators from across the border.

On the contentious issue of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Sarma alleged that the people of Assam were betrayed, as the final NRC list published in 2019 contains multiple anomalies and questionable entries. The final list had excluded 19,06,657 applicants, while 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. However, it has not yet been notified. Sarma stressed that the current NRC is unacceptable to his government and called for a thorough legal review by the Centre, the Supreme Court, or the state government to find a solution. Although the Supreme Court had declared the 2019 NRC final, Sarma argued that it should undergo revisions and updates before being officially notified.

When asked about foreign media coverage of eviction drives against encroachers in Assam, Sarma dismissed their reports as irrelevant. He stated that in the Modi regime, India has moved beyond the colonial mindset and places equal importance on both national and local media. According to him, foreign media might provide coverage for only a few minutes, which has no real impact on the state’s voters.

Through these statements, Sarma reinforced his government’s firm stance on tackling extremism, illegal infiltration, and the flaws in the NRC while dismissing outside criticism as inconsequential to Assam’s internal affairs.