Press Club of India demands SC takes notice of ‘communal cauldron being ignited’ in Tripura

In a strongly-worded statement today, the Press Club of India “demanded” that the Supreme Court take suo moto cognizance of recent developments in Tripura.

“The Press Club of India is shocked to note that Tripura government is arm-twisting, beating up and arresting mediapersons along with scores of innocent citizens during the communal violence in the state,” the statement said.

The statement named journalist Shyam Meera Singh, who was booked along with several journalists and activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for posting on social media about the communal violence that took place earlier this month. A total of 102 social media handles had also been booked by the Tripura police. The Hindu reported that eight people have been arrested so far.

The PCI demanded that the “draconian UAPA” be “withdrawn immediately”, stating the law was being used to “intimidate” and “suppress” the press.

On November 8, the Editors Guild of India had also expressed “shock” at the use of UAPA against journalists and lawyers in this case. They had called the repeated use of UAPA a “disturbing trend” and an “easy tool to suppress freedom of press”.

In addition to media bodies, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also criticised the use of UAPA in Tripura, stating that "truth can't be silenced".