In recent reports, it was revealed that a journalist from Kerala newspaper Malayala Manorama, Binu Vijayan gave a statement against journalist Siddique Kappan. He has been in prison since last year for trying to report on the Hathras gangrape case. The Uttar Pradesh government has booked him under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Kappan's wife Raihanath Kappan sought an explanation from the Malayala Manorama. Speaking to the News Minute, Raihanath said that she will file a complaint with the concerned newspaper authorities. She alleged that it is because of Binu Vijayan's "baseless allegations" that her husband is charged under the UAPA.
UP Police Chargesheet on Siddique Kappan:
She alleged, "My husband had said the police were already at the toll gate from where he was arrested, as though they were waiting for him. They were prepared. So, it is possible that someone gave the police some false information which caused the arrest.” She said that her "doubts have intensified" after the involvement of the journalist. Raihanath is going to take legal action after receiving the chargesheet. According to Raihanath, Vijayan had some disputes with the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) since he was not selected to be on its panel.
According to a report by Newslaundry, Vijayan had resigned from his membership at KUWJ in 2019 after Siddique Kappan was seclected as secretary there.
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What Did Binu Vijayan Tell Uttar Pradesh Police?
As per a report, Binu Vijayan who works at Malayala Manorama's Patna Bureau in his statement to Uttar Pradesh police alleged that Kappan was involved in misappropriating funds when he was the KUWJ's Delhi chapter Secretary. He also told the police that Kappan allegedly spread "fake news to incite communal violence and pose danger to national integrity and communal harmony." Vijayan's "fake news" allegation was regarding the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi in 2019. He also alleged that Kappan influenced media coverage of the riots that took place in north-east Delhi in February 2020. All these allegations were included in the chargesheet against Siddique Kappan prepared by the UP police.
Why Was Siddique Kappan Arrested ?
Siddique Kappan is a native of Kerala's Malappuram. He was on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to report in the gangrape and murder of a woman by dominant caste men when he was arrested Uttar Pradesh police on October 5, 2020. Three other members of the Popular Front of India were also arrested with him. Kappan has been in jail for over a year now. The UP police have accused him of having intention to 'disrupt peace' and have charged him under UAPA.
In a chargesheet, the police also included 36 news stories filed by Kappan claiming that they 'incite violence' and 'irresponsible reporting'.
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