Hathras case: Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan was arrested in October final 12 months
Lucknow: A 5,000-page chargesheet has been filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police in opposition to Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested in October final 12 months whereas travelling from Delhi to report on the aftermath of the alleged gang-rape and subsequent dying in a Delhi hospital of a Dalit lady from UP’s Hathras.
Seven others, three of whom had been arrested with Mr Kappan, and the others arrested later, additionally face expenses underneath the stringent Illegal Actions (Prevention) Act or UAPA for alleged conspiracy to create communal rigidity.
Mr Kappan and three others had been heading to Hathras to report on the alleged gang-rape of the lady – who died later in hospital – after they had been arrested and charged underneath the anti-terror legislation. The UP Police stated they acted on a tip about “suspicious individuals”.
Within the FIR (First Data Report), the police used a bit of the UAPA that offers with “elevating funds for a terrorist act”. Mr Kappan has since been in jail in Mathura.
“We now have not but obtained a replica of the chargesheet. It is about 5,000 pages. As soon as we formally get a replica, we’ll research it and resolve our plan of action,” stated defence lawyer Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi advised reporters exterior the court docket in Mathura.
The UP administration’s dealing with of the Hathras case was broadly criticised. The police had been accused of being gradual to reply to the lady’s criticism. After she died in hospital of her wounds, the police additionally controversially took away her physique, drove to her village and cremated it at 2 am within the absence of her household.
The state administration’s therapy of journalists and leaders who tried to go to Hathras, was equally criticised.
The Central Bureau of Investigation later took over the case and filed a chargesheet in opposition to 4 accused. That trial is happening in a court docket in Hathras.
In December final 12 months, the UP authorities advised the Supreme Courtroom that Mr Kappan claimed he was working as a journalist in a Kerala-based each day, however that newspaper shut down two years again.
The UP authorities has filed an affidavit within the Supreme Courtroom claiming Mr Kappan was going to Hathras underneath the “garb of journalism” with a “very decided design” to create caste divide and disturb legislation and order scenario.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has requested the Supreme Courtroom for an unbiased inquiry by a retired decide to find out the information of the alleged “unlawful arrest and detention” of Mr Kappan. The KUWJ claimed that the Uttar Pradesh Police made an “absolute false and incorrect assertion” that Mr Kappan is the workplace secretary of the Common Entrance of India (PFI).
