"UP police torturing my husband": Siddique Kappan's wife seeks Kerala CM's intervention

Siddique Kappan's wife Raihanat Siddique and brother Hamsa requested at a press conference in Kozhikode that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan intervene to ensure his release. They will hold a dharna in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram in the first half of January highlighting the request.

UP police arrested Siddique Kappan on October 5th while he was on his way to report on the Hathras gang rape incident. The Delhi chapter of Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) approached the Supreme Court requesting bail for the journalist. UP government is trying to malign KUWJ since then.

The police told Kappan that he would be saved if he agreed that he went to Hathras on the instructions of CPM MPs and leaders. Other questions by the police included why he was visited by Rahul Gandhi at his residence and whether he had beef.

Kappan informed Raihanat on a call that he was physically assaulted when he clarified that he was there for reporting. Also, Rahul Gandhi did not visit Kappan at home. Kappan had only gone to Wayanad to meet Rahul Gandhi.

Previously, a request was submitted to the CM requesting his intervention in the matter. However, the ADGP responded that it would not be possible for him to intervene in a case under another state. Raihanat, at the conference, requested the government's intervention and also expressed faith in the judicial system.

Senior journalist NP Chekutty, Calicut Press Club President M Firoz Khan, and former KUWJ state president Kamal Varadoor also attended the conference.