Uttar Pradesh witnessed several protests in 2020 including one against the Citizenship Amendment Act and also the beginning of farmers’ agitation in Nov-Dec 2020.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, has recorded the highest number of arrests and convictions, as compared to other states and Union Territories, under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the year 2020, Union Ministry of Home Affairs informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday (March 15).
A total of 361 people were arrested, and 54 were convicted in UP in 2020. The year had seen several protests, including one against the Citizenship Amendment Act and also the beginning of farmers’ agitation in Nov-Dec 2020. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of arrested individuals, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (346) and Manipur (225).
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lower House of Parliament in response to questions. Rai said that as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Police and Public Order are state subjects.
“In terms of conviction rate under UAPA, UP has the highest number that is 54 followed by Tamil Nadu 21, Jharkhand 3 and Jammu and Kashmir 2. And people arrested under UAPA but out on bail, the highest number was in Jammu and Kashmir 103, Tamil Nadu 44, Kerala 22 and Manipur 19,” the Minister said.
He said the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles the data on crime reported by the States and Union Territories and publishes the same in its annual publication ‘Crime in India’.
On the ‘duration’ each under-trial UAPA prisoner has been in jail without bail, the Minister replied that specific data regarding the number of persons who were denied bail the duration of each under-trial prisoner in jail without bail under the UAPA is not maintained by NCRB.
As per the NCRB report on the number of persons arrested, persons on bail, persons convicted and persons acquitted under the UAPA in the year 2020,