Criminal cases have been filed against more than 70 people including Supreme Court lawyers, activists, journalists and religious leaders by the Tripura Police. Eight individuals belonging to different districts have been arrested as well.
The cases were lodged following a request from the police to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube asking the social media platforms to provide details of 101 accounts which were used to post “fake and provocative” messages and photos on a couple of reported incidents in Tripura.
A senior police officer confirmed in his statement that “Cases were filed against 71 persons under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA] and the Indian Penal Code [IPC]. Those booked have been asked to appear before the investigating officers on November 10”.
The police officer said that letters were mailed to the respective social media platforms, after which their authorities have initiated action against the accused account holders.
The Hindu reported that Journalist Shyam Meera Singh had confirmed via Twitter that the BJP-led Tripura Government had slapped the UAPA against him for writing three words — “Tripura is burning”.
Freelance journalist Samriddhi Sakunia, who had been live-tweeting and sharing news of the violence in the state said “Tripura Police is really trying hard to nab down people who are talking about the Tripura violence”, and noted how the police was targeting her tweets on social media rather than chasing the perpetrators of the violence.
Activists have questioned as to why the Tripura Police have chosen to ignore the perpetrators and instigators of violence and instead focused their attention on those who are reporting about the violence.
Supreme Court lawyers Ehtesham Hashmi, Amit Srivastava, Ansar Indori and Mukesh Kumar also received UAPA notices for sharing posts on social media which were “provocative” in nature.
The police claimed that the incidents that took place during the rallies during and after Durga Puja in October were overstated by social media users necessitating security forces to act briskly and handle the situation.
The Tripura High Court has sought a detailed report from the State Government by November10 regarding incidents involving the religious minorities in Tripura.
Concurrently, religious heads of four Muslim bodies have requisitioned an investigation into the part played by the Tripura Police and administration in the violence.
At a joint press conference in Delhi, the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees Hind and the All India Milli Council said that 16 mosques were attacked in various parts of Tripura as reported by The Hindu.
Muslim bodies have requisitioned an investigation into the part played by the Tripura Police and administration in the violence
