ITANAGAR, May 19 : The Human Rights Law Network (HRLWN) has urged upon the state government to scrap the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014 (APUAPA) and unlawful activities to deal with under the provision of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and termed it is being misused to suppress the voice and right of citizens.
Implementation and exercising of APUAPA law is to curtail the individual’s right and privilege given under the constitution of India to every citizens to privilege and under privilege people. Even if there are criminal and other action there are several law under IPC and CRPC etc to deal with but this act is not at all favorable for general public if it is use against them. said HRLWN Member advocate Ebo Milli, while addressing media persons here at APC.
Under the APUAPA no individual has provision or right to hire any advocate for legal procedure such as bail petition plea, anyone’s term of prison can be extended according to the will of ‘advisory board’ headed by retired high court’s judge, he added.
Condemning the act of the capital district administration and district magistrate during recently concluded 72 hours bandh call, ‘If police and court can take decision upon the unlawful activities then what is the need of extra laws in the state.
“The IPC is the comprehensive which cover all criminal cases, so book the individuals under any IPC cases on why to harass the people in the name of APUAPA,” said Advocate Milli.
Informing the UAPA was introduced in 1967 with the intention to combat with the terrorism and unlawful activities poses threat to the country, HRLWN stated that they (detainees) are not a terrorist nor they posed any threats to the society, although they supported the bandh call but they did not commit or indulged into any kind of damages and threatening.
Terming the detention of supporters and extension of its prison as an arbitrary decision made by the state government, the advocate said, APUAPA kept a space for manipulation by the state government, where they can target any individuals without following any proper legal procedure.
He appealed to the civil society, like minded people and various organizations to condemn and discourage APUAPA, which is a draconian law in nature and curtailing the right of the individual that is enshrined in the constitution of India.
