West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen has admitted that the application of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on two suspected Maoists,arrested from Sanrenga in Bankura district on Sunday,was a mistake. On Tuesday,Sen directed the Superintendent of Police,Bankura,to immediately withdraw the sections under the Central law. He,however,defended SP Vishal Garg,saying he might not have received the details of how to apply the Central Act. Sen said in future the Act would be applied only under the supervision and instruction of the Home department,adding that the Government would issue a notification in this regard. However,S A Rehman,Additional Public Prosecutor at Khatra in Bankura district,said he has not received any instruction from the police to move a petition seeking withdrawal of UAPA on Gopinath Murmu and Kanchan Murmu. The two had been arrested on Sunday from a forest near Kargilmore when they were allegedly trying to plant a landmine. Police seized 5 kg of powerful explosives in a metal container as well as a foreign pistol with live cartriges. On Monday,they were remanded in police custody for two weeks by the ACJM court at Khatra.
