Assam CM threat: Man arrested in Kerala for hacking account, posting ₹2 crore assassination offer
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A man from Assam's Nagaon district has been arrested in Kerala after allegedly hacking a neighbour's social media account and using it to post a threat offering ₹2 crore to anyone who would assassinate Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, police said on Monday, 31 August. The accused was traced across state lines following a digital investigation into the threatening post.
How the Threat Was Posted
The accused, Rashidul Haque, a resident of Dhing Chapori under Juria police station in Nagaon, allegedly gained unauthorised access to the social media account of Mobarak Ali, a fellow resident of Gadaimari in Juria. Using Ali's compromised account, Haque allegedly published a message threatening to kill the Chief Minister and offering ₹2 crore as a bounty. The post prompted police to launch an immediate investigation to identify the person behind the account.
The Personal Dispute Behind the Alleged Act
During questioning, Haque reportedly told investigators that he hacked Ali's account as an act of revenge stemming from a personal dispute. According to the statement attributed to Haque, Ali had allegedly developed a relationship with his wife and later eloped with her. Haque further claimed that his wife left behind their differently-abled child and allegedly took ₹5 lakh with her. Police are separately investigating these allegations made by the accused.
Investigation and Digital Trail
Investigators traced Haque to Kerala, where he was subsequently arrested. Authorities are now examining the digital trail associated with Ali's account to determine precisely how it was accessed and whether any additional individuals were involved in circulating the threatening content. Electronic evidence, social media activity logs, and the alleged personal dispute are all under scrutiny as part of the ongoing probe.
Broader Context
The arrest comes amid heightened law-enforcement focus on threats issued against public figures through social media platforms. This case highlights the misuse of compromised digital accounts to post potentially criminal content while obscuring the identity of the actual perpetrator. Officials said the investigation would seek to establish the full sequence of events and determine the applicable legal provisions under which charges will be framed.