Over 600 Citizens Demand Immediate Recall of UAPA Notices to Lawyers by Tripura Police
Representational use only.
New Delhi: Over 600 citizens from various walks of life have condemned the Tripura government’s action to “silence” lawyers, journalists and social activists for expressing concern over the recent communal incidents in the North Eastern state.
In a “protest petition” submitted by the Nagarik Adhikar Manch and All India Lawyers' Union, the citizens demanded an end to communal violence “perpetrated by the VHP and Hindu Jagran Manch and Bajrang Dal on Muslims in Tripura.” The signatories include former Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed, CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, lawyer Som Dutt among others.
It may be recalled that the Tripura Police has booked 102 people, under the draconian Unalwful Activities Prevention Act or UAPA, including some lawyers who were part of a fact-finding team, journalists and social activists for social media posts expressing outrage over the communal violence in Tripura.
“It is learnt that a team of 4 lawyers from Supreme Court comprising of Adv. Ehtesham Hashmi (leader), Adv. Amit Srivastava, Adv.
Ansar Indori and Adv. Mukesh visited the violence effected areas of Rawa Bazar, Panisagar (North Tripura), Kelashar, Dharamnagar and had on the spot enquiry to find out the true facts regarding communal violence, damage caused to the houses and business premises and the places of worship of the minority community. The fact-finding report of the team is already in public domain. The report contains information in respect of damage to the property of the victims, callousness of the Police of the affected areas and the administration of the Government of Tripura,” said the petition, adding that “reporting and protesting against communal violence and insisting for Rule of Law cannot by any stretch of imagination attract UAPA, sedition or any other criminal Charge/ offences slapped on the members of the fact-finding team.”
The petition calls for immediate recall of the notice sent under Section 41 of the code of criminal procedure mentioned code of criminal procedure as well-Sections 153A/153B (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.), 469 (forgery for purpose of harming information), 503 (Criminal Intimidation), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke the breach of peace) and 120B (Punishment for criminal conspiracy) against the lawyers.
Read the full petition here.
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