Mangalore: If not for the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, Vittala Malekudiya, a journalism student of Mangalore University and the first student from Malekudiya community to take up a post-graduation course, would have gotten away with a lighter punishment for his alleged association with Left-wing extremist groups. According to Times of India, An amendment to Unlawful Activities (Prevention)Act post 26/11 attacks redefined terrorist organization(s) and included newer sections and stringent penal provisions.

According to the reports, Vittala and his father were the first to be booked under the amended act in Dakshina Kannada district. They were arrested on March 3 by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) on charges of being Naxal sympathizers and a case was registered (crime number 24/2012) with Belthangady police against them. Another case (73/2012) under the act was registered in the same police station against Naxalite leader Vikram Gowda and others following busting of an arms dump at Mithabagilu on March 10.

The third of the three cases booked under the act in the district was against unknown and unnamed Naxalite(s) following an exchange of fire with ANF patrol party in Kuthloor under Venoor police station limits (35/2012) on April 21. An ANF personnel hit by a bullet during the encounter.

Quoting a senior police official, Times of India reported that the fallout of the 26/11 attack was the introduction of the National Investigation Agency Act, which created the National Investigation Agency with wide ranging powers to operate in any part of the country without the concurrence of respective state governments. The second fallout was the amendment to the UAPA and addition of newer sections to it, some of which have been used against Vittala and his father. MN Anucheth, assistant superintendent of police, Puttur sub-division, and investigating officer in above cases said police would have still booked Vittala and his father under UAP Act, 1967.

"Penalty in the original act was not as severe as they are now since the amendment," he said.