Tripura violence: Police books 102 social media accounts under UAPA

Three days after booking four Supreme Court lawyers under stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and or IPC provisions, Tripura Police on Saturday booked a total of 102 social media accounts under similar charges. social media account holders, including 68 Twitter handles, have now been charged by police. charges have been pressed for allegedly spreing "objectionable news items/statements" regarding recent clashes and alleged attacks on mosques in Tripura.

Tripura police have now booked 102 social media accounts under UAPA in relation to recent communal violence in state. police informed that around 150 social media accounts were initially listed for scrutiny. move comes only days after four Delhi-based vocates were booked under same provisions for allegedly sharing fake information on social media during violence. police also sent notices to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, asking social media platforms to block booked accounts as y were allegedly found to be spreing objectionable news on platforms.

Police sends notice to Twitter regarding Tripura violence

In a notice served to Twitter’s online Law Enforcement Request system, police asked for blocking of handles citing those individuals used same to share photographs or videos of some or incidents or fabricated statements during violence. Earlier, Tripura police in a series of tweets h said that some social media posts were spreing fake news. y h also informed that action would be taken against individuals sharing same.

'Some posts in social media projecting doubts on impartiality of Tripura police in taking action against perpetrators of recent communal incidents have been noticed,'  police h tweeted. 'It is reiterated that Police is investigating se cases in a completely impartial and lawful manner. Appropriate action is being taken against anyone found involved in se incidents,' Tripura Police ded. police earlier booked 71 people for allegedly spreing rumours on social media on communal violence incidents.

Tripura violence

Violence erupted in North Tripura after alleged vandalism of a mosque and two shops that were set ablaze at Chamtilla on October 26 evening during a Vishwa Hindu Parish (VHP) rally. rally was held in protest against riots in Banglesh against Hindu community and its temples. 

However, violence erupted during VHP rally in Tripura after a group of people allegedly pelted stones and damaged a door of a mosque, following which security forces rushed to spot and brought situation under control, district Superintendent of police Bhanu Pa Chakraborty said. A complaint was lodged in this connection and mosques in sensitive areas were given protection.

Police on October 28 informed that no mosque was burnt during protest rally, and photograph of same, where a burning and damaged 'masjid' is seen, was fake. police warned public not to engage in rumour-mongering and appealed to m to maintain law and order.

Image: PTI