PRAYAGRAJ, Nov. 27 -- The Allahabad high court has upheld the detention of a man under the National Security Act, 1980 (NSA) as it observed that if it leads to communal tension, even a single criminal act amounts to a violation of public order rather than a mere breach of law and order. A division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Sanjiv Kumar dismissed the habeas corpus petition filed by one Shoaib challenging his detention order passed by the Mau district magistrate. The order, dated November 17, came into limelight on Wednesday. According to the allegations, a minor altercation broke out in the Ghosi area of Mau district on November 15, 2024, after Shoaib's motorcycle allegedly hit that of one Sukkhu. Shoaib allegedly summoned his associates, who then attacked Sukkhu with a knife, injuring him. When the victim was taken to a community health centre, a large group from Shoaib's side allegedly gathered there, leading to a violent confrontation and stone pelting. The high court observed that this caused "pandemonium in the hospital", the patients and attendants had to flee the premises and the patients were not coming to the hospital out of fear. Shoaib's counsel argued that he had no role in any act affecting public order, and that the FIR did not accuse him of leading any violent mob. Rejecting the contention, the court said: "It is true that the act attributed to the petitioner and his companions of assaulting Sukkhu with a knife over a small incident of bumping of their motorcycles, might be a simple case of violation of law and order for which the petitioner could be charge-sheeted, charged and tried in accordance with law and punished, but it is the direct fallout of the said action that widespread riot and communal tension between the two communities was precipitated that resulted in vitiation of public order."...