Thread by @SaifulJamia

The use of UAPA lies in its misuse.
(Thread)

1/6. It is a systematic means to curb & witch-hunt those critical of the ruling dispensation of the time. A brief bio of those incarcerated under it proves this point: lawyers, journalists, poet, social activist, students.
#RepealUAPA

2/6. UAPA does this by allowing for long periods of police custody, and a much longer period of custody without chargesheet. For 6 months, an accused doesn't even know what he is accused of.
#RepealUAPA

3/6. It is said bail is the rule & jail is the exception. But UAPA makes it almost impossible to secure bail. A person keeps languishing in jail for durations without anything being proved against him/her. Example, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj in jail for the last 2 yrs. #RepealUAPA

4/6. The conviction rate of UAPA is very low. In other words, most charged under UAPA are eventually proved innocent by courts. But by then, they have already spent many years in prison. The process is the punishment. #RepealUAPA

5/6. The UAPA is a handy tool for the govt to suppress people's movements. They simply jail leaders under UAPA for long terms. They are eventually proved innocent after many yrs but by then the govt has already suppressed the movement by arresting its leaders. #RepealUAPA

6/6. The UAPA is just a 21st version of the colonial Rowlatt Act, which allowed for detention without trial. Mahatma Gandhi launched a satyagraha against Rowlatt Act. We need to launch another Satyagraha today against UAPA. It has no place in a democracy.
#RepealUAPA

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