In news

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, for the first time, approved a research study on “status of radicalisation in India.

Aim

The study would attempt to legally define “radicalisation” and suggest amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

How was the topic selected?

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the police think tank of the MHA, had invited research proposals from academicians and legal experts in the year 2018.

It received 75 proposals, and two topics -

• “Status of Radicalization in India: An Exploratory Study of Prevention and Remedies” 
• “Functioning and Impact of Open Prisons on Rehabilitation of Prisoners” 

G.S. Bajpai, Director of the Centre for Criminology and Victimology, National Law University (NLU), Delhi, will conduct the research on radicalisation.

Highlights

• The study will be religion-neutral and will go by facts and the reported cases.
• Radicalisation is yet to be defined legally, this leads to misuse by the police.
• It should be defined and necessary amendments made to the UAPA.”
• Radicalisation has to be addressed in a systematic manner and a policy should be devised by the Centre.
• It is not merely a policing issue.
• In India, people are sensitive about religion, what we are attempting is correct interpretation of holy books such as Quran, Gita or Bible.

Source: The Hindu