Journalist Siddique Kappan Arrested in Kerala, Faces New Charges Following UAPA Bail

Journalist Siddique Kappan, known for his previous UAPA case in Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested in Kerala. Kochi police apprehended Kappan and ten others on Saturday, charging them with unlawful assembly, obstructing a public way, and assaulting police officers. The arrests stemmed from a protest against the arrest of Rejesh M. Sheeba Siddique by the Maharashtra ATS. Sheeba Siddique’s arrest was related to statements made concerning Operation Sindoor. Police reports indicate that Kappan and the others are accused of unauthorized gathering, obstruction of public passage, disruption of public order, and assaulting law enforcement. The demonstration was organized by the Rejesh Solidarity Forum. Kappan addressed the gathering near the High Court Junction. Those arrested include advocate Pramod Puzhankara, C.P. Rasheed, Sajid Khalid, Dr. Hari, Bhaburaj Bhagwati, Ambika, and Mridula Bhavani. The police stated that approximately 30 people, without permission, began shouting slogans in support of Rejesh using a microphone in a public area, causing inconvenience. When police asked them to disperse, they resisted, leading to their removal. The FIR was registered 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. The charges include unlawful assembly and obstruction of a public way. Earlier, BJP leaders in Ernakulam had complained to the police that Kappan was violating his bail conditions and the gathering should be stopped. Rejesh Siddique, a student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, was arrested from Nagpur in May of this year and charged under UAPA. He was accused of posting against Operation Sindoor and Operation Kagar (anti-Maoist campaign) on social media. Siddique Kappan was originally arrested by Uttar Pradesh police in October 2020 while en route to cover the Hathras rape case. He was charged under UAPA at the time, but is currently out on bail in that case.