Tripura Violence: After Supreme Court Lawyers, 102 Social Media Accounts Charged Under UAPA

Agartala: Barely three days after four Supreme Court lawyers were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Tripura police have invoked the same law against 102 social media handles. They also served notices on US-based Internet companies seeking detailed information on these account owners.

The officer-in-charge of West Agartala police station ordered the blocking of 102 handles in a notice served via Twitter’s online Law Enforcement Request system. He said these accounts were spreading “objectionable news items/ statements” about the recent clashes and alleged attacks on the state’s mosques.

Police also enquired Twitter for information on the users or administrators of those accounts, who according to police had posted fake or fabricated photos and statements online that had “potential to flare up communal tension”. Facebook and YouTube as well got similar notices.

“…Some persons/ organization are publishing/ posting distorted and objectionable news items/ statements in Twitter regarding the recent clash and alleged attack upon mosques of Muslim communities in the state. In publishing these news items/ posts, the persons/ organizations have been found using photographs/ videos of some other incidents, fabricated statements/ commentary for promoting enmity between religious groups/ communities in presence of a criminal conspiracy,” police said via the notice.

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