Assamese writer nabbed for making offensive remarks on Naxal attack

Shikha Sarma in her Facebook post took potshots at the 22 jawans killed in an encounter with Maoists recently in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Her remarks provoked a huge backlash from the people of Assam. Police have arrested her on charges of sedition.

Guwahati:Dispur police arrested Assamese writer-cum-activist Sikha Sarma for her controversial remarks on the martyrs of the recent Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. Assam lost two of its brave sons - inspector Dilip Kumar Das and constable Bablu Rabha - both were part of the elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit. In total, 22 jawans were martyred in the attack.

Shikha Sarma on Monday made a Facebook post, "Salaried professionals who die in the line of duty cannot be termed martyrs. Going by that logic, electricity department workers who die of electrocution should also be labelled martyrs. Do not make people sentimental, media.” Her Facebook post provoked a huge backlash from the people of Assam.

Following her post, two prominent lawyers Umi Deka Baruah and Kangkana Goswami filed an FIR against her at the Dispur police station in Guwahati. The FIR seeks strict action for her remarks. Based on the FIR, Dispur police arrested the 48-year-old writer and charged her under various sections, including IPC 124A (sedition). Sarma is also associated with All India Radio, Dibrugarh, as per her Facebook profile.