1,948 people were arrested and 34 convicted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in 2019, the Centre informed the Parliament on Wednesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said this in a written reply to DMK member Tiruchi Siva's question about the total number of people imprisoned under the UAPA in the country at present.
The minister said that the figures were based on National Crime Records Bureau's 2019 report which is also its latest report.
The statement comes amid accusations from opposition and activists, especially after the death of octogenarian activist Father Stand Swamy in jail, that it was misusing the stringent anti-terror law.
According to the NCRB data 1,421 people were arrested and 35 convicted under UAPA in 2018. 1,554 were arrested and 39 convicted in 2017, whereas 999 were arrested and 24 were convicted in 2016.