Updated: December 15, 2020 2:02:40 am
Siddique Kappan (wearing cap), secretary of the Kerala Union of Worker Journalists, and three other people who were detained with him were brought before a court in Mathura. (PTI)
Opposing a petition from the Kerala Union of Worker Journalists (KUWJ), which has called for the release of its member Siddique Kappan, the government of Uttar Pradesh has tried to link him to the banned Islamic Student Movement of India (SIMI) and has told the Supreme Court that he went to Hathras on the “instructions of the” Delhi riots case he charged Md Danish.
In an additional affidavit filed with the superior court, the state government also questioned KUWJ’s good faith and charged him with “attempting to cover up / conceal” Kappan’s “true identity.”
He argued that there is a “high probability” that Kappan will go “underground” if he is granted bail at this stage, when the investigation is still pending.
Alleging that Kappan is not assisting in the investigation, the state said it is not “disclosing his social media accounts, passwords and details associated with them to hide his misdeeds.”
KUWJ’s petition indicated that Kappan has more than 10 years of experience as a journalist and was heading to Hathras to report on the alleged massacre and death of a Dalit girl when he was detained by UP police in Mathura on 5 October.
In stating that Kappan “has been found to be associated with the Popular Front of India (PFI),” the UP government stated that PFI “has been responsible for disturbing the public peace of the state by causing class and caste conflicts with the intent to destroy public order and tarnish the image of the Government by inciting hatred, contempt and dishonor to the Government. PFI has been involved in anti-national activities and has maintained links with terrorist groups such as ISIS. “
There are “various cases” against PFI members and activists, who have also been charged in Kerala, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country, according to the affidavit, presented by the Special Secretary, (Home), UP.
He stated that “according to the investigation to date, the majority of PFI members who are former officials of the“ banned organization SIMI ”have had a close relationship with Kappan. “Various incriminating evidence was found in the house of the accused Sidhique Kappan during the search carried out on 11.11.2020…. These documents revealed crucial information / journey of the formation of PFI itself as a reincarnation of the SIMI after its ban (SIMI), in addition that the motive and the ideology of both organizations are corroborative in nature, ”said the state government.
The affidavit stated that “the investigation has revealed that” Kappan and his co-defendants “were mobilized towards Hathras on instructions from Md. Danish, who is charged in the Delhi riots case,” and that “Rauf Sherief, secretary General of CFI (Campus Front of India) was facilitating the movement ”.
CFI members Atiqur Rahman (25), Masood Ahmed (26) and Alam (26) were arrested along with Kappan.
The state Department of the Interior stated that Rehman was also wanted in a case recorded at the Muzaffarnagar station, and that “Danish and Rauf Sherief were continuously in contact with… Kappan and other co-defendants via cell phones, which were recovered by the vehicle police. used by the defendant on the way to Hathras on 05.10.2020 ”.
He claimed that Kappan’s co-defendant “Masood is being financed by PFI and its members’ bank accounts, the other co-defendant Atiqur Rehman is being financed by Rauf Sherief … who have received millions of funds from various national and international suspicious sources.” He said that Kappan’s “State Bank of India account also reflects various suspicious cash deposits on numerous occasions, and the same is under investigation.”
The affidavit said that Kappan is “closely associated with and has been in frequent connection via social media and phone conversations with PFI members who have various portfolios across the country … most of whom have also been executive members. of the banned terrorist organization SIMI “. The investigation has also revealed that the defendant Sidhique Kappan is not only involved in hatching a scheme to commit a recognizable crime to disturb public order and peace, but is also a mastermind who has ties to various unfortunate riots, disturbing public tranquility throughout the country. “
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