Tripura violence: Supreme Court directs state police not to take any coercive steps against 3 civil society members

New Delhi, November 17

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Tripura Police not to take any coercive action against three civil society members, including a journalist, in connection with an FIR lodged under the UAPA provisions against them for allegedly bringing facts through social media posts about “targeted violence” against the minority community in the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli also issued a notice to Agartala Police on the plea filed by advocates Mukesh and Ansar-ul-Haq and journalist Shyam Meera Singh against lodging of the FIR against them.

The members of the civil society, who were part of a fact-finding committee, have also challenged the constitutional validity of some provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, on the grounds that the definition of “unlawful activities” is vague and wide; moreover, the statute makes grant of bail to accused very difficult.

Recently, the north-eastern state witnessed incidents of arson, looting and violence after reports emerged from Bangladesh that the Hindu minorities there had been attacked during Durga Puja on allegations of blasphemy. PTI