Guwahati: In a move that has sparked a political controversy, Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh was arrested by Lakhimpur police in Guwahati, Assam, over alleged derogatory remarks made against Lakhimpur MLA Manav Deka and his family on social media.

The Congress has condemned the arrest, calling it an example of the BJP-led Assam government's autocratic rule and oppression of opposition voices.

Senior Congress leader and MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that the police were being used as a political tool.

Gogoi also questioned the timing of the arrest, which coincided with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Assam to inaugurate a new police academy. The Congress has accused the BJP government of hypocrisy, claiming that it is using law enforcement agencies for political purposes while pretending to improve policing.

The arrest has raised concerns over the deteriorating track record of the Assam police, with Gogoi blaming CM Sarma for pressuring law enforcement officers into engaging in politically motivated arrests. The Congress has demanded Singh's immediate release and an end to the alleged political vendetta.