West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the state government would see that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was not misused.
He told the Assembly that 39 persons had been arrested — 30 in Maoist-affected West Midnapore, five in Bankura and four in Purulia — for links with activities by the CPI (Maoist) which was banned.
The provisions in the Act were very tough and those who have links with Maoists or who made propaganda for them might also be arrested under this Act, Bhattacharjee told the Assembly during the question hour.
He said the police would arrest the suspects under IPC as it was decided that the Act would be used with utmost caution.
To ensure that the Act was not misused, the state government has decided that the decision as to who would be booked under this Act would be taken at the highest level.
As per decision of the core committee of the state government, the Home secretary was given the responsibility of deciding about it, the chief minister informed the House.
Bhattacharjee appealed to all parties not to have truck with the Maoists who resorted to anti-national activities and said that the extremists were active in Nandigram and Khejuri and had link with Trinamool Congress.
