New Delhi: The arrest of Mahbubul Haque, founder of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, by Assam police has sparked widespread condemnation across India. Haque, a veteran social worker of Bengali origin, has been a prominent figure in education and community service.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Haque, who also heads the Education and Research Development (ERD), was arrested from Gauhati following a series of criticisms by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The arrest has drawn significant backlash and criticism from various groups.

The Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) condemned the arrest on Monday, describing it as a “violation of justice.” In a statement, SIO claimed that the arrest was an attempt by the BJP-led Assam government to undermine minority-led institutions and silence voices supporting the marginalized.

The student group accused Sarma’s administration of targeting Muslim institutions and using state power to further a divisive agenda. They referred to previous allegations about “fake degrees” and “flood jihad” as part of this narrative, asserting that the goal was to prevent the socio-economic advancement of Muslims.

SIO expressed solidarity with Haque and called for his immediate release. They emphasized their commitment to continue the fight for education, justice, and dignity, resisting any attempts to turn Assam into a center for communal conflict.

Police allegations suggest that some students were promised easy exams at USTM, but ERD Foundation principal secretary Mehjabeen Rahman refuted these claims. Rahman suggested that the accusations stemmed from a few disgruntled students who were not allowed to use unfair means during exams.

Haque, originating from Assam’s Sribhumi district in the Barak Valley, founded the ERD Foundation and is the Chancellor of USTM. His foundation also operates schools in Patharkandi and Badarpur.

In a related incident in August 2024, Sarma accused Haque’s university of contributing to flash floods in Guwahati, attributing the cause to construction activities in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district.

Mashkoor Usmani, former president of Aligarh Muslim University’s student union, also condemned the arrest, describing it as a “targeted attack.”