Guwahati Police File FIR Against Journalist Abhisar Sharma

Fast Summary

• The guwahati Crime Branch registered an FIR against journalist and YouTuber Abhisar Sharma on August 21, 2025, following a complaint from a local resident.
• The FIR invokes Sections 152 (sedition), 196, and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
• Sharma allegedly uploaded a YouTube video accusing Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of communal politics.
• The video mocked the principle of Ram Rajya and alleged that the government survives on Hindu-Muslim polarisation.
• Complainant Alok Baruah claimed these remarks aimed to disrepute elected governments, provoke communal sentiments, and inflame passions that could disturb public harmony.
• Baruah also stated that discussions about religion-based divides have emerged in his locality after watching the video.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The filing of an FIR against Abhisar Sharma highlights the sensitive interplay between freedom of expression and laws meant to ensure public order in India. Invoking provisions from the recently introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita underscores its role as a replacement for older sedition laws while maintaining stiff penalties for acts perceived as prejudicial to national integrity or harmony.Key concerns include balancing free speech with accountability-especially when commentary potentially incites social or communal tensions. This case could test how accusations tied to online content are interpreted under newer legal frameworks like BNS while shaping discourse around government criticism in digital media spaces.

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