‘Protest is not terror activity’: Pinjra Tod activists, Jamia student granted bail in Delhi riots case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Natasha Narwal Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha in a Delhi Riots case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention ActA bench comprising of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup J Bhambhani held that prima facie no offence under sections 15 17 or 18 of the UAPA is madeout on the basis of the material on record in the present case against the threeGranting bail to Narwal the court said We can discern no specific or particularised allegation much less any material to bearout the allegation that the appellant incited violence what to talk of committing a terrorist act or a conspiracy or act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act as understood in the UAPAThe court noted that it is constrained to express that it seems that in its anxiety to suppress dissent in the mind of the state the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred If this mindset gains traction it would be a sad day for democracy said the courtWhile granting bail to Tanha the court said Foisting extremely grave and serious penal provisions engrafted in sections 15 17 and 18 of the UAPA frivolously upon people would undermine the intent and purpose of the Parliament in enacting a law that is meant to address threats to the very existence of our Nation Wanton use of serious penal provisions would only trivialise themThe court said bail to three was subject to personal bond of Rs 50000 and two local sureties And the conditions also include the three surrendering their passports and not indulging in activities which could hamper the caseTanha is a student pursuing graduation at Jamia Millia Islamia He was arrested in the Delhi riots case under UAPA in May 2020 and has been in continuous custody since then Narwal and Kalita are PhD scholars at Jawaharlal Nehru University who are associated with the Pinjra Tod Collective They have been in custody since May 2020The case pertains to Delhi police investigation into the larger conspiracy which led to the riots in February 2020 According to police the three accused along with other accused persons conspired to cause disruption which could lead to disturbance in law and order at an unprecedented scaleThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever