This provision says whoever threatens another with injury to his person commits criminal intimidation.
Under S506 of the same code, whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years or with a fine, and in the case of threats to cause grievous hurt, the penalty of imprisonment may extend to 7 years.
Threats to slap a person clearly come within the scope of this section.
The Home Minister is clearly confused. He says a slap is not a threat. He says action will be taken only if the act of slapping is carried out. That is ridiculous. The law doesn’t require one to wait for an assault before action can be taken. The threat of it is sufficient. He doesn’t seem to understand this.
His further remark that the slapping thing is between her and that group is even more ridiculous. That is certainly not right.
The Attorney-General should correct Zahid immediately. I hope he is not influenced by the Home Minister instead.
He must, as Public Prosecutor, inspire confidence in this time of apparent weakness on part of the government to stand up against such open threats of violence.
He must direct a full investigation into the matter and charge those responsible without delay.