Assam CM Flags Surge of Foreign Facebook Accounts Pushing Fundamentalist Propaganda

By A Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has raised serious concerns over a surge in suspicious Facebook activity, alleging a coordinated campaign of online radicalisation linked to foreign entities. Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister stated that around 5,000 Facebook accounts had been suddenly activated in the past month, many of which are actively disseminating pro-Iran, pro-Palestine, and pro-Muhammad Yunus content.

A forensic audit of these accounts is underway, with authorities having closely examined 2,092 profiles so far. According to Sarma, of these, a significant portion originates from foreign countries—618 from Bangladesh, 236 from Pakistan, 88 from Kuwait, 54 from France, among others. The presence also includes users from Palestine, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, and even nations like Australia, Canada, and Colombia.

Sarma claimed that the users behind these accounts belong to a "particular community" and are “very hardcore Islamic fundamentalists.” He emphasized that these accounts show no engagement with Indian political figures like Rahul Gandhi or the Indian National Congress, but are focused on Assam-centric pages and the activities of a specific political leader, suggesting a targeted strategy.