Guwahati, Sep 13 (IANS): Lured by militant outfits campaigns on various social media platforms, the youth in Assam continue to join extremist groups despite a slew of peace agreements signed by the government with such outfits since 2014.

While replying to a series of questions on the floor of the Assembly on Tuesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 1,561 young men and women have joined at least five extremist outfits since 2016.

According to the Chief Minister, who also holds the home portfolio, the extremists groups include the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the People's Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK), the United People's Revolutionary Front besides the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent).

Replying to opposition leader Debabrata Saikia, Sarma said that the extremist outfits, especially the ULFA (I) headed by Paresh Baruah, have been "brainwashing young men and women with misinformation via Facebook, Messenger and Twitter".

The Assam police under the Cyberdrome Project monitored social media platforms and found 990 "objectionable posts" by such brainwashed youth during 2021-2022.

Sarma said that on the basis of such posts, the police have registered around 100 cases across the state and 85 people were arrested while 581 others were counselled in the presence of their parents and guardians.

Around 400 social media posts were removed from different platforms, he told the House.

Replying to another question, Sarma said that since 2016, the police have arrested 84 suspects for their alleged involvement in ‘jihadi' activities, and 10 of them were engaged as teachers at various private madrasas.

He said that out of the 84 people, 40 were members of Ansarullah Bangla Team, 35 belonged to the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and nine to Hizbul Mujahideen.

Replying to another question, Sarma said that 19 militants of different outfits were killed in 12 encounters with security forces between January last year and September 4 this year.