Gauhati University Scholar Rehna Sultana Now on the Run from Assam Police

Guwahati, August 19, 2019:

The controversial Gauhati University (GU) scholar Rehna Sultana, who has been become the subject of controversy ever since an old Facebook post came back to haunt her, now finds herself on the run.

A suo moto case was registered against the scholar for an allegedly 'Pro-Pakistan' post, which went viral during the occasion of Eid. Now, police have confirmed that the scholar is nowhere to be found.

Speaking to Inside Northeast, the In-Charge of the Jalukbari Police Station (where the case had been lodged) said that police have been trying to locate the girl. "I personally went to her house to enquire about her whereabouts, but it seems like she has faded into the shadows; she is nowhere to be found. However, efforts are still on to locate her. She will be arrested once her location can be ascertained."

[caption id="attachment_38010" align="alignnone" width="660"] Sultana's controversial post[/caption]

Guwahati city Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar told Inside Northeast, "Sultana has been missing, her phone has been switched off. The offense is non-bailable, thus, she will be arrested as soon as we get wind of her whereabouts."

Meanwhile, Sultana's post continues to draw criticism, despite the fact that it is allegedly more than two years old.

The incident has created a furore across the State of Assam, and netizens were quick to jump on the throat of the Gauhati University scholar, while many came to her defense, citing that the ‘status’ was posted two years ago.

Although eating beef, or any other kind of meat, is not a crime, it is indeed cause for alarm when an Indian resident, and that too a scholar, equates it with the “joy of Pakistan”, which continues to maintain tenuous relations with India despite numerous attempts at peace.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have become a platform for the spread of 'hatred', and it has been witnessed that anger that is aroused on social media often spills on over to the ‘real world’.

The 'Sultana' incident raises many questions, such as: Is Sultana a supporter of Pakistan living in India? Has her ‘mentality’ changed since she posted the ‘status’ (as many as 3 years ago, as per some sections of the media). These are some questions that the citizenry as well as media should try to get to the bottom of.

While speaking to Inside Northeast, Gauhati University General Secretary Nayan Jyoti Gogoi, said that that the Gauhati University student fraternity is utterly dumbstruck and devastated at the turn of events.

“We are saddened because her name is associated with the University. How can she teach with such an anti-nationalist mentality? I, on behalf of the community, condemn her, and we are all utterly and thoroughly ashamed. An Assamese scholar should not be giving such opinions on social media. She has been causing trouble for some time, and urge her to be more careful in the future since she was born in this nation”, the student leader opined.

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