Even a day after state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen called for withdrawal of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act charges against two suspected Maoists in Bankura, the police on Wednesday made no effort in this direction.

The police did not approach the ACJM court in Khatra for withdrawing the UAPA charges against Gopinath Murmu and Kanchan Murmu, who were arrested from a forest near Kargil More on Sunday while allegedly trying to plant a landmine.

On Tuesday, Sen had said that it was a mistake to book the two suspected Maoists under the UAPA. Bankura Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg, meanwhile, told The Indian Express over phone that he has received the instruction in this regard from the home secretary and the police will act according to the order.

He, however, added: “The UAPA has its own rules and the police are considering the legal aspects of the withdrawal of the Act when it has already been applied.”

Additional public prosecutor S A Rehman, who had filed the petition for the Bankura police, is yet to receive any directive from the police on the withdrawal of the UAPA charges against the suspected Maoists.

The counsel of the suspected Maoists, Samir Das, said the police have not served any notice to him in this regard.

On the question of legalities involved, Das said the police would have to satisfy the court on the withdrawal of the Central Act according to legal provisions. They would have to explain why they wanted to withdraw the Central act, he added.

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