UAPA charge not agreeable, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Facing flak over slapping of UAPA against two student activists of CPI(M), Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, me it clear on Sunday that his government did t agree with police decision to frame charges under Act. In his first reaction after police arrested and charged two young students under dreed Act for allegedly distributing some pro-Maoist pamphlets, Vijayan told reporters that his government did t agree with police for arresting youth under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).

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'Party has right to speak against UAPA'

government will examine case and take necessary action, he said. If police charge someone with UAPA, it does t mean that it would come into effect immediately, he said. government and state-appointed committee on UAPA has to examine case, he ded. Attacking Congress, Vijayan said party h right to speak against UAPA.

Meanwhile, Justice P S Gopinathan, heing UAPA committee, told reporters in Kochi that UAPA cant be imposed solely on basis of recovery of brochures from accused. "Only if re is evidence, UAPA will be valid," he said ding re have been several instances earlier when committee h denied permission to impose UAPA for lack of evidence. UAPA would be valid only if re was evidence, he said. Senior Congress leer and Leer of Opposition in assembly Ramesh Chennithala h earlier in day demanded Vijayan's resignation on matter.

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Chennithala told media that Vijayan, who also holds Home portfolio, should resign as re was or option.

Thaha Fazal and Allan Shuhaib-- in ir early 20s, were arrested in Kozhikode on Saturday morning under UAPA, causing widespre criticism in Left ruled state. parents of two youth have rubbished police claims that y are Maoist sympathizers.

Describing UAPA as a 'double-edged sword', Law Minister A K Balan, said it should t be used as a weapon to annihilate incent and activists working as per democratic rms. When an FIR is registered, a lot of caution is needed. "We will examine if in this case FIR was registered as per rules," he told reporters.

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CPI(M)'s Kannur District Secretary M V Jayarajan was of view that government would act and rectify decision to arrest students under 'dreed' UAPA. With criticism mounting against state government and police over decision to invoke UAPA on student activists, DGP Loknath Behera Sunday directed two senior police officers to conduct an impartial probe and take appropriate action.

Necessary instructions in this regard have been issued to GP Law and Order and IGP (rth Zone), Behera said.

"At present, only a preliminary investigation has been done. All aspects of case need to be taken into account and evidence collected.

Only after a detailed probe will it be clear if UAPA will stand in this case," release said. Actress Sajitha Mathil, who is aunt of Shuhaib, said police action to register UAPA was 'shocking'. A group of 25 police personnel came to house in early hours of Saturday and searched house. 

"He is t a Maoist. What has he done to attract UAPA?", she asked. Police did t find anything from house, and y only took his mobile phone was taken away, she said. Allan's mor Sabitha said police h told m that her son h Maoist links, which is t right. From 10th standard onwards, he has been a DYFI, SFI activist and a CPI(M) member, she said.

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Aboobacker and Jameela, parents of Thaha, said ir son used to work and attend journalism classes and he was one who was taking care of family. She said she was scared of police. Police h said y h seized some banners and books from his house. Jameela also alleged that police h threatened and forced her son to raise pro-Maoist slogan when he was brought home at 3 am on Saturday.