Tripura violence case: SC raps govt, cops for sending multiple UAPA notices

"We will issue notices the SP and Home Secretary if we feel the police is trying to circumvent our order by issuing multiple notices,” the Supreme Court told the counsel appearing for the state government in the Tripura violence case.

The Supreme Court has pulled up the Tripura Police and the government for repeated notices under UAPA sent to journalists, activists, and people who tweeted the articles on alleged violence in the state.

"When we have passed orders on this, why is the superintendent of police issuing notices to people? We will summon everyone, including the SP and home secretary," warned a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Suryakant

The bench was hearing a petition filed by lawyers and journalists, who were issued the UAPA notices by the Tripura government.

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Towards the end of October 2021, a mosque, some shops and houses belonging to the minority Muslim community in Tripura were allegedly vandalised. The communal violence was purportedly triggered by anti-Hindu violence in neighbouring Bangladesh.

According to the Tripura chapter of Jamiat Ulama, at least 15 incidents of communal attacks against the Muslim community had occurred in October. A mosque was also allegedly vandalised during a VHP protest rally in Tripura.

Advocate Shakrukh Alam, appearing for the petitioners, said: “This court had issued an interim stay after notices had been sent out to Twitter, asking for details of a tweet. Physical notice has not been served yet. The SP of Tripura has issued notice to petitioner Journalist Samiulla Shabbir Khan to appear in Agartala for questioning.”