Four persons including Chhatradhar Mahato, convener of the CPI (Maoist)-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC), were convicted by a court in the State’s Paschim Midnapore district on Monday for sedition and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 2008.
This is the first case in West Bengal where a court has held the accused guilty under UAPA, which was implemented in the State in 2009.
“Other than Mahato, Sukhsanti Baske, Sambhu Soren and Sagun Murmu associated with the PSBJC have also been convicted by the court.
Two others — Raja Sarkhel and Prasoon Chattopadhyay — have been convicted of sedition but the court absolved them of charges under the UAPA brought by the prosecution,” Mrinal Kanti Chowdhury the counsel of the accused told The Hindu .