Congress spokesperson’s arrest triggers political clash in Assam

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 15, 2025

The arrest of Assam Congress spokesperson and lawyer Reetam Singh in Guwahati has ignited a political storm, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP of using law enforcement as a weapon against dissent. Singh was taken into custody on Saturday morning by Lakhimpur police, assisted by their Guwahati counterparts, following a complaint by the wife of Lakhimpur BJP MLA Manab Deka.

The case (No. 91/2025), filed under Section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and multiple IT Act provisions, stems from Singh’s social media post questioning why BJP leaders accused of sexual assault— including Deka, former state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, and ex-Union minister Rajen Gohain—had not faced legal action. His now-controversial post on X read: “These culprits got the punishment they deserved. But what about @BJP4Assam r@pe accused Ministers and MLAs like Manab Deka, Ex Party President Bhabesh Kalita, ex-Minister Rajen Gohain?”

Deka’s wife responded with an FIR, challenging Singh to substantiate his claims.

Singh, a London-trained aerospace engineer and Gauhati High Court lawyer, has faced legal trouble before. In April 2024, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, he was arrested for allegedly circulating a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sharing abusive content online.

His latest arrest has fueled allegations of political vendetta. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi denounced the move as an attack on free speech and accused the BJP-led Assam government of manipulating the police for political ends.

“A Lakhimpur police team arrived in Guwahati and forcibly detained Reetam Singh. When I reached his residence, he was being dragged away like a criminal. The police even denied me the right to speak to him,” Gogoi said.

The Congress has also questioned the timing of the arrest, which coincides with Amit Shah’s visit to Assam to inaugurate a police academy in Dergaon. Gogoi pointed out that while BJP workers recently assaulted two Assam police constables in broad daylight without facing consequences, Singh was swiftly arrested over a tweet.

“Is Amit Shah aware of this selective policing? When BJP supporters attack law enforcement officers, there is silence. But when a Congress leader criticizes BJP figures, the police act with urgency. The Assam government is making a mockery of the justice system,” he added.

The opposition has labeled Singh’s arrest “a dangerous precedent” and vowed to challenge it in court. With the Assam Assembly session approaching, the issue is likely to escalate into a fierce political battle, with Congress framing it as a fight for democratic rights and the BJP defending law enforcement’s actions.