Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday that police have arrested all suspects involved in a plot to carry out bomb blasts at four key locations across the state, including the recent grenade attack in Bokakhat.

The authorities have also recovered grenades intended for the attacks, though the mastermind remains at large but is expected to be apprehended soon.

Addressing reporters in Guwahati, Sarma revealed that the planned explosions targeted Bokakhat, Guwahati, Tezpur, and Lakhimpur. “The police have detained all individuals tasked with executing these blasts. We’ve recovered three grenades and a pistol from the residences of the accused,” he said.

The Bokakhat attack on June 24 saw two motorcycle-borne assailants lob a grenade at a CRPF camp, injuring three police personnel stationed there.

Sarma clarified that the plot was orchestrated by “criminal-minded” individuals rather than organized militants. “Investigations are ongoing to uncover who instigated these attacks.

The suspects are giving conflicting statements,” he said, noting that while one accused had past ties to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and served a long prison term, most were involved in unrelated criminal activities like cattle theft and drug offenses. “These are not members of any militant group but criminals with prior records,” he added.

The chief minister, who also oversees the Home portfolio, said the key figure behind the plot is still absconding but is not in Assam. “We have his location, and he will be arrested soon,” Sarma assured.

Dismissing speculation about the reinstatement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in response to such incidents, Sarma said, “AFSPA applies to prolonged insurgency, not isolated events. It’s currently enforced only in Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Sivasagar districts, and we have no intention of expanding it.” He emphasized the state’s commitment to maintaining peace without resorting, to additional security measures.

Stand-up comedian and YouTuber Jaspreet Singh appeared before the Assam Police’s Crime Branch in Guwahati on Saturday, April 12, for questioning in a case accusing him and four others of promoting obscenity through a publicly accessible online show. The case, filed on February 10, alleges that the content featured sexually explicit and vulgar discussions, offending public decency and morality.

A police officer confirmed that Singh met with the investigating officer (IO) in the afternoon, where his statement was recorded. “He was examined thoroughly as part of the ongoing probe,” the officer stated. Singh’s appearance follows that of fellow YouTuber Samay Raina, who was questioned on April 5.

Of the accused, only Apoorva Makhija has yet to appear, having previously cited being out of the country alongside Singh in emails to the police, prompting fresh summons.

The Guwahati Police initiated the case against Singh, Raina, Ranveer Allahabadia, Ashish Chanchlani, Makhija, and others, including the owner of the venue where the controversial show was filmed.

The charges fall under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, the Cinematograph Act of 1952, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act of 1986, reflecting the severity of the allegations.

Allahabadia faced questioning on March 7, cooperating fully during a session lasting over four hours and pledging continued assistance, including future visits to Guwahati if required.

The Supreme Court granted him protection from arrest but labeled his remarks in the show as “vulgar.” Chanchlani, the first to appear on February 27, secured anticipatory bail from the Gauhati High Court on February 7.

The Assam State Board has announced the cancellation of all Class 11 examinations scheduled from March 24 to 29. This decision affects 36 subjects and comes in light of multiple reports of question paper leaks, as stated by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu.

Previously, a leak of the Higher Secondary first-year Mathematics paper, which was set for March 21, prompted officials to cancel that exam and file a police report. The Class 11 examinations had commenced on March 6 and were originally slated to conclude on March 29.

Minister Pegu confirmed via a post on X that due to allegations of question paper leaks and breaches of protocol, the remaining exams for the Higher Secondary First Year Examination 2025 have been cancelled. He indicated that a board meeting on Monday, March 24, would determine the future course of action regarding the exam schedule.

In a follow-up post, Pegu detailed that the Mathematics paper leak was traced back to 18 schools—three of which were government institutions—that improperly opened the security seal a day prior to the exam. As a consequence, the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) has suspended the affiliations of 15 private schools across 10 districts for this violation, with further action pending against three more institutions for similar infractions.

Additionally, the state government intends to press charges against the implicated schools, which have been barred from enrolling Class 11 students for the 2025-26 academic year. Pegu noted that police complaints will be filed, following the ASSEB’s directives issued by Ranjan Kumar Das, the Controller of Examinations (in-charge). Reports indicated that some institutions unsealed the Mathematics exam packets on March 20, despite the exam scheduled for the afternoon of March 21.

The ASSEB order also raised concerns that the potential for leaks might extend to the remaining subjects, as these question papers remain in custody at various examination centers across the state. Consequently, the remaining exams from March 24 to March 29 have been officially cancelled.

Das further informed PTI that an FIR has been lodged at the CID Headquarters in Guwahati, with additional cases expected to be filed at local police stations regarding the involved educational institutions.

While acknowledging that not all centers may have contributed to the leaks, he assured that a thorough investigation would pinpoint the culprits responsible for the dissemination of leaked papers on social media. Previously, a similar incident led to the cancellation of the Class 9 English annual exam in Barpeta district after the question paper surfaced online.