Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
Context:
- The Union Home Ministry recently declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its front organisations, including its student wing, the Campus Front of India (CFI), an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
What is PFI?
- Popular Front of India is a Indian Muslim political organization, that engages in a radical and exclusivist style of Muslim minority politics.
- The PFI was founded in 2006 with the merger of the Karnataka Forum for Dignity and National Development fund.
- PFI has often been accused of involving in anti-national activities and also in some anti-social activities apart from this the Kerala Government had stated that this political organization was a resurrection of the banned terrorist outfit SIMI
About UAPA:
- It was enacted to provide for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations, and for dealing with terrorist activities.
- It was amended in the years 2004, 2008, 2013, and 2019 to add certain provisions relating to various facets of terrorism.
Amendment in 2019:
Union government may designate an individual or an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it:
- commits or participates in acts of terrorism,
- prepares for terrorism,
- promotes terrorism, or
- is otherwise involved in terrorism.
- Approval of Director- General for seizure of property if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)
- Officers of the rank of Inspector or above in NIA can investigate cases.
- International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005) is added under the schedule under which terrorist act is committed.
Source The Hindu
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