Kerala Police Arrests Journalist Siddique Kappan and Others, Highlighting Recent Events and Previous UAPA Involvement

Siddique Kappan, the journalist, has been arrested in Kerala, compounding his ongoing legal entanglements. He was on bail in a UAPA case when the Kochi police detained him and ten others on Saturday. They are accused of unlawful assembly, obstructing a public way, and attacking police officers. The arrests were prompted by a protest against the Maharashtra ATS’s detention of Rejesh M. Sheeba Siddique, which arose from his statements regarding Operation Sindoor. Police sources say that Kappan and the others were involved in an unlawful assembly, obstructing public roads, disrupting public order, and assaulting police personnel. The protest was organized by the Rejesh Solidarity Forum, with Kappan speaking at the gathering near the High Court Junction. Those arrested included advocate Pramod Puzhankara, C.P. Rasheed, Sajid Khalid, Dr. Hari, Bhaburaj Bhagwati, Ambika, and Mridula Bhavani. Police reports indicate that about 30 people, without permission, began chanting slogans supporting Rejesh through a public address system, causing disruption. When asked to leave, they resisted, which led to their removal. An FIR was filed under sections 189(2), 190, and 285 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), along with sections 118(e) and 117(e) of the Kerala Police Act, including charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing a public way. Previously, BJP leaders in Ernakulam had reported to the police that Kappan was violating his bail conditions and that the gathering should be stopped. Rejesh Siddique, a student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, was arrested from Nagpur in May and charged under UAPA based on social media posts criticizing Operation Sindoor and Operation Kagar. Siddique Kappan’s earlier arrest by Uttar Pradesh police took place in October 2020, while he was on his way to report on the Hathras rape case. He was then charged under UAPA and is currently out on bail.