Guwahati: The man accused of allegedly threatening to kill Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a social media live broadcast has been remanded in five-day police custody, police said.
Abdul Mutaleb, a tailor from Bhuragaon in Morigaon district, was produced before a court on Sunday following his arrest in connection with the alleged threat.
According to police, a Facebook account carrying Mutaleb’s name allegedly posted a comment offering to kill Sarma for Rs 1 crore during the Chief Minister’s live interaction on the social media platform. The post also reportedly contained the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad”, a phone number and objectionable remarks against Sarma.
The alleged threat surfaced while Independence Day celebrations were being streamed live from Guwahati on Saturday. Assam Police subsequently traced the social media account and arrested Mutaleb from Bhuragaon.
Mutaleb, however, has denied any involvement in the post. Before being taken to the police station, he claimed that someone had created a fake Facebook account using his photograph to implicate him.
“This is completely fake. I request the police to probe the matter. Someone has used my photo and created a fake Facebook account to make me the accused. I am just a tailor,” Mutaleb said.
Police are investigating whether Mutaleb operated the account from which the alleged threat was posted. Investigators are examining the account’s activity and digital trail to establish its authenticity and identify the person responsible.
The five-day custody will allow investigators to question Mutaleb and examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged post, the threat and the motive behind it.
Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.