ISI wants someone to win: Assam probing Pak-linked social media profiles

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that around 1,000 Facebook accounts, suspected to be operated from Pakistan and Bangladesh, are under investigation by the state police. He added that these accounts are allegedly targeting Assam politics and stated that even Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence "wants someone to win".

He added that these Facebook profiles are allegedly involved in coordinated online activity aimed at influencing Assam's political environment ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, Sarma said that he had directed the Special Branch of Assam Police to scrutinise over 2,000 Facebook accounts that have been regularly commenting on political developments in the state. According to him, nearly half of these accounts were traced to users based in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"These accounts were created on the same day by members of a particular community, keeping the upcoming elections in mind," Sarma said, suggesting a planned effort to manipulate public perception. He added, "If you go through the comments, you will realise that these are not names familiar to our state. The intention is clear. Somebody wants a particular outcome in the elections. Even the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) wants someone to win."

The chief minister also indicated that the number of such accounts could increase in the coming months.

Sarma further said that more information will be made public on September 10, when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police is expected to submit its report regarding Congress MP and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Colebourn. The ongoing investigation reportedly looks into Elizabeth's earlier stay in Pakistan during her work with a climate change NGO and Gogoi's visit to the country in 2013 before he became an MP.

Gogoi has denied any wrongdoing and accused the Assam government of targeting his family to divert public attention. He has demanded that the chief minister release the findings of the investigation immediately rather than wait until September. He also clarified that his wife's stay in Pakistan was purely professional and unconnected to any political activity.