Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh was arrested on Saturday for a social media post questioning the legal status of cases against three senior BJP leaders, triggering a political storm in the state. Singh was taken into custody from his home in Guwahati by a team from Lakhimpur police, assisted by Guwahati police.
Lakhimpur Superintendent of Police Mihirjit Gayan confirmed the arrest, stating it followed a complaint by the wife of BJP MLA Manab Deka regarding a post Singh made on X (formerly Twitter) two days ago.
The controversial post
On March 13, Singh shared a news report about three individuals convicted in a 2021 rape case in Dhemaji district and asked whether BJP leaders Manab Deka, former Assam BJP chief Bhabesh Kalita, and ex-minister Rajen Gohain—whom he referred to as “rape accused” in his post—would also face justice.
“Is the law equal for all?” Singh wrote, tagging BJP Assam’s official handle.
Kalita, who stepped down as Assam BJP president in January, is an MLA along with Deka, while Gohain previously served as Minister of State for Railways in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first term.
High-drama arrest, Congress calls it “political vendetta”
Singh’s arrest was met with resistance. He initially refused to leave his residence, claiming no warrant or legal notice was served. Visuals shared on social media showed a heavy police presence outside his Ulubari apartment.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi rushed to Singh’s home, accusing the police of dragging him away while refusing to let him speak.
“A team of Lakhimpur police came to Guwahati to take Congress spokesperson @SinghReetam. When I reached his residence, I saw how he was brutally dragged away and not allowed to speak,” Gogoi wrote on X.
He linked the arrest to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Assam on the same day, asking whether Shah was aware of what he called “the misuse of police” under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“The BJP government is arresting opposition leaders, while BJP thugs who beat up two Assam constables in broad daylight roam free,” Gogoi alleged.
Singh calls arrest “illegal”
Before being taken away, Singh posted pictures of the police outside his home, stating they had no legal grounds to arrest him.
“I showed them the recent Gauhati High Court judgment requiring police to serve a notice before an arrest. I am an advocate and will comply with any investigation, but I won’t go if this is a politically motivated act,” Singh wrote.
He also referenced a March 7 ruling by Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita, stating that any arrest without notice would be contempt of court.
BJP yet to respond
As the Congress stepped up its attack on the Assam government, the BJP has yet to issue a statement on Singh’s arrest. However, sources in the party dismissed the opposition’s claims, calling it an “attempt to shield defamation under free speech.”
Singh is currently being taken to Lakhimpur for further legal proceedings.
