Biplab Deb directed state police to review UAPA cases against attorneys and journalists.
Tripura:
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today asked Tripura’s top police to review cases against journalists and lawyers under controversial anti-terrorism legislation. 102 people, including lawyers and journalists, were recently charged under sections of the Illegal Activities Prevention Act for allegedly sharing fake images of violence in Tripura last month, which The police allege that has disturbed the peace in the state and created the law and- challenge the order.
Supreme Court was granted relief on November 17 to three people who filed a motion to dismiss UAPA’s lawsuits against them. Journalist Shyam Meera Singh has been charged for posting a tweet that read “Tripura is on fire”. Supreme Court lawyers Ansar Indori (from the National League of Human Rights Organizations) and Mukesh (from the People’s Civil Liberties Union) were part of an independent fact-finding team that visited state to assess the actual situation and prepare a report. SC has issued a notice to the Tripura government and says that no coercive action has been taken against the three until further orders are issued.
At the direction of the CM, Superintendent of State Police VS Yadav requested the additional Superintendent of Crime Branch of Tripura police to review cases against lawyers and journalists under UAPA.
Various media outlets and civil liberties groups have criticized the Tripura government for trying to “intimidate and silence” the media and demand an immediate retraction of the cases.
The Indian Women’s Press Foundation (IWPC) said it was “shocked and dismayed” by the actions of Tripura Police in arresting Shyam Meera Singh, a journalist, along with others from UAPA. “Singh has alleged that he was arrested for posting the tweet ‘Tripura is on fire.’ It is a journalist’s job to inform, highlight and present the true picture of events. Journalism is not about pleasing those in power.” journalist agency said.
The Editors’ Association of India also released a statement expressing shock and demanding a fair and objective investigation into the circumstances of the violence, rather than “punishing” the journalists. “This is an extremely worrying trend when such harsh legislation, in which extremely strict and overbearing bail application and investigation processes, are being used to merely report and protest against community violence,” their statement said.
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemned the FIR and asked the police to withdraw the cases. “… the police invoked the draconian provisions of the UAPA law solely because of the FFT’s finding that large-scale violence destroyed many Muslim homes, shops, mosques and other properties. The religion in many towns in Tripura is the result of staged violence unleashed by majority Hindu groups such as the VHP and HJM, against Muslim minorities with a tacit understanding and sense of renunciation of duty. their service by Tripura Police,” said a press release signed by PUCL National President Ravi Kiran Jain and National Secretary General, Dr V Suresh.
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