NCRB Report: Sharp Surge in UAPA Cases Across India in 2022; J&K has Highest Cases

New Delhi: In a startling revelation, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has reported a significant surge in cases registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) during the year 2022.

According to the 2022 crime report released by the NCRB, there has been an alarming increase of 17.9% in UAPA cases, with a total of 1,005 cases registered across the country. This marks a notable escalation from 2021, when 814 cases were reported and 796 cases in 2020.

According to a report published in The News Minute, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir leads the grim statistics, reporting the highest number of UAPA cases in 2022, with a staggering 371 cases registered in various police stations. Manipur, embroiled in months of conflict, follows closely with 167 cases, while Assam and Uttar Pradesh reported 133 and 101 cases, respectively.

The controversial UAPA Act of 2019, an amendment to the 1967 Act, empowers the Union government to designate an organisation or individual as a terrorist on specific grounds. Despite concerns raised by opposition parties in Parliament about its draconian nature and potential for misuse, the Bill was passed in both Houses and received the President's assent in August 2019.

The surge in UAPA cases is part of a broader increase in crimes against the state, totalling 5,610 cases in 2022, up from 5,164 in the previous year. Crimes categorised under UAPA alone witnessed a staggering 23% rise, as per the NCRB data released on Sunday.

Delving into the details, the NCRB categorises "Offences against State" into sub-categories, including UAPA, sedition under Section 121-124 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the Official Secrets Act. Interestingly, cases of sedition under Section 121 of the IPC saw a sharp decline of nearly 75% from 76 in 2021 to 20 in 2022.

In a significant move, Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah announced in August that the colonial-era "sedition law" would be repealed under the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) bill, to be replaced by Section 150 of BNS, focusing on punishing those endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

Apart from UAPA, other legislations also saw changes in reported cases. The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act recorded an increase, with 4,403 cases registered in 2022, compared to 4,089 in 2021.

According to a report published in The Print, regionally, Punjab and Haryana reported a notable rise in UAPA cases, with Punjab registering 25 cases in 2022 compared to 14 in 2021 and Haryana reporting 11 cases, up from two in the previous year. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a 28% increase in UAPA cases, Assam saw a surge of 40%, and Uttar Pradesh reported 101 cases in 2022 compared to 83 cases in 2021.

The numbers also shed light on juveniles in conflict with the law, with 17 UAPA cases registered against juveniles in 2022, with 13 cases originating from Jammu and Kashmir.