NewsClick FIR casts farmer protests as terror and fails to back sweeping charges with evidence

The FIR has invoked India’s anti-terror law against the news organisation. A close examination shows gaping holes in the narrative.

Oct 7, 2023 - 11:30

NewsClick FIR casts farmer protests as terror and fails to back sweeping charges with evidence

NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha has been accused of several sweeping allegations in a first information report filed against him on August 17. He was arrested on Tuesday along with NewsClick’s human resources head, Amit Chakraborty, after unprecedented raids by the Delhi Police on over 40 staffers and contributors of the digital news organisation.

The first information report has invoked several sections of India’s stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. These include Sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (punishment for conspiracy etc) and 22C (punishment for offences by companies, societies or trusts).

Other offences made out in the FIR: Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

A Scroll examination of these sections reveals their disproportionality in relation to the ambit of actions NewsClick is alleged to have undertaken in the first information report or could realistically have taken.

Unlawful activities

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is a stringent law that makes it onerous for an accused person to secure bail. Its provisions have been criticised for being vague and sweeping, opening the doors for their misuse.

A case under Sections 13 and 22C of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act...