In a written response to Parliament, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai revealed that nearly 3,000 arrests were made under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2023, while the conviction rate remained notably low. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, 2,914 individuals were arrested under the UAPA this year, but only 118 secured convictions.
Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 10,440 arrests were made under the UAPA, resulting in just 335 convictions, translating to a conviction rate of approximately 3.2%. These figures were disclosed in response to a query from Congress MP Shafi Parambil, who requested state-wise data on arrests, convictions, and current imprisonment related to the law over the past five years.
Rai noted that policing and investigation are under the jurisdiction of state governments, and the Centre depends on the NCRB’s annual report “Crime in India” for national statistics. He also mentioned that the NCRB does not maintain data on individuals currently imprisoned under UAPA charges.
According to the data, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of arrests in 2023, accounting for 1,122, followed closely by Jammu and Kashmir with 1,206. Conversely, several states, including Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Sikkim, reported no arrests during the specified period from 2019 to 2023.
Despite the significant number of arrests, the conviction rates across various states have remained alarmingly low, with some reporting no convictions for multiple years despite high arrest counts. In 2023, Delhi reported the highest number of UAPA convictions among Union Territories with 24, while Uttar Pradesh recorded 75 convictions.
The trend shows a sharp increase in UAPA arrests in recent years, rising from 1,621 in 2021 to 2,636 in 2022 and reaching 2,914 in 2023.
The UAPA serves as India’s principal counterterrorism legislation but has faced criticism from human rights organizations due to its stringent bail provisions and broad definition of unlawful activities, which some claim has led to misuse. The government has consistently defended the law as vital for maintaining national security.
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