Of the 5,922 people were arrested in different parts of the country between 2016 and 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), only 132 persons were convicted under the draconian law putting the conviction rate at 2.2%, the Union Home Ministry told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The data was presented by G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs and was based on the official records compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) updated till 31 December 2019. The data was presented as a response to Rajya Sabha Member Syed Nasir Hussain’s request.
While substantiating the data with the NCRB, Reddy said that the total number of people arrested in the year 2019 sums up to 1,948. Out of these 96 persons were detained section 194A of IPC (sedition) but only 2 persons were found guilty and 29 were acquitted.
Since last year, the Central government has arrested activists, journalists and student leaders under the draconian UAPA. Many of them were arrested for protesting against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act,
The government is also taking steps to further strengthening the sedition law in the country as Amendment in the said law is in process.
Also read: 3.15 Lakh Or 65.90% Prison Inmates From SC, ST, OBC Categories: Govt Data
