FIR Filed Against Journalist Abhisar Sharma Over Alleged Communal Remarks

Guwahati, Aug 21 : The Guwahati Crime Branch has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against journalist and YouTuber Abhisar Sharma following a complaint that accuses him of uploading a video allegedly ridiculing both the Assam and Union governments.

The FIR, lodged on Thursday, invokes Sections 152, 196, and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These provisions pertain to acts endangering national integrity, promoting enmity between groups, and making assertions prejudicial to national integration.

According to the complaint filed by Alok Baruah, a 23-year-old resident of Nayanpur, Ganeshguri, Sharma's video accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of indulging in communal politics. The video also reportedly mocked the concept of Ram Rajya and claimed that the government "survives only on Hindu-Muslim polarisation."

Baruah alleged that the remarks were made with mala fide intent to malign democratically elected governments and provoke communal sentiments. He further stated that the video has sparked discussions in his locality, with concerns emerging over a potential religion-based divide that could disrupt public peace and harmony.

The FIR notes that Sharma's comments are capable of inflaming passions, eroding trust in lawful authorities, and promoting enmity between religious communities. Under the BNS, Section 152 replaces the repealed sedition law and criminalises actions that threaten India's sovereignty and unity. Section 196 addresses incitement of enmity on grounds such as religion and caste, while Section 197 pertains to statements that undermine national integration.