New Delhi, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Tuesday said that two persons were arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in Tripura last year.
In a written reply to a question on the number of arrests made in Tripura under UAPA in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said, "As per the latest report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), two persons were arrested in the year 2020. The ‘unlawful activity’ has been defined under section 2 (1) (o) of the UAPA,1967."
Section 2 (1) (o) of the UAPA of 'unlawful activity' means any action taken by individual or association (whether by committing an act or by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise), which disclaims, questions or is intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
"Police and Public order are State subjects under the 7th Schedule to the Constitution. The responsibility to maintain law and order and protection of life and property rests with the respective State governments. The governments are competent to deal with offence under the extant provisions of law," the Minister said.
It was in response to Congress leader in Lower House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's query on whether the government recognises a social media post that criticises it to be an unlawful activity.