Tripura CM instructs police to review UAPA cases against journalists

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday directed Director General of Police VS Yadav to review the UAPA cases lodged against journalists and lawyers following the communal violence in the state earlier in October. The DGP has asked ADGP Puneet Rastogi of the Crime Branch to review the cases.

"Attempts were made last month and earlier this month to disrupt the law and order situation in the state by circulating fake photos and videos of burning mosques in Tripura on social media. In order to control this, and to maintain peace and communal harmony, the Tripura police filed cases against 102 persons under various sections of UAPA and IPC. The persons include journalists and lawyers, mostly from outside the state," a Tripura Home Department official said.

Earlier, the Tripura police had asked social media handles, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to provide details of more than a hundred accounts. They alleged that various fake and provocative posts were made in connection with the violence in the state through these accounts.

Following communal incidents in Bangladesh, over 50 political parties and organisations, including the All India Imam's Council, had organised rallies in the state condemning the attack on minorities. However, the Muslim minority in the state were attacked in different parts of the state, and the north Tripura district authorities resorted to prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Panisagar and Dharmanagar sub-divisions as a precautionary measure.