- Home
- Miscellaneous
- CPJ calls on Indian authorities to release journalist Siddique Kappan, drop all charges
CPJ Calls On Indian Authorities To Release Journalist Siddique Kappan, Drop All Charges
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published June 16, 2021 | 11:00 PM
NEW YORK, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2021 ) :The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent watchdog body, Wednesday called on Indian authorities to drop all charges against journalist Siddique Kappan and release him immediately.
"The Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) court's decision to drop the breach of peace charge against Indian journalist Siddique Kappan suggests that police officers' accusations about him were bogus from the start," Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia programme coordinator, in Washington, DC., said in a statement.
"The Uttar Pradesh government should do the right thing by withdrawing all the remaining charges and setting Kappan free at once," he added.
The Mathura court Wednesday dropped the breach of peace charge, which police had originally filed following Kappan's arrest in October 2020, according to CPJ research and news reports.
The court noted that police failed to complete their investigation into the charge within six months, as required by law, according to those reports.
In April, while in custody on that charge, authorities also charged Kappan with sedition, rioting, and criminal conspiracy, as well as under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Information Technology Act, relating to his alleged membership in the Popular Front of India Islamic group, which the journalist denies, according to news reports.
Kappan's lawyer Wills Matthew told CPJ in a phone interview that the state was still pursuing the other charges, and investigating claims that the journalist violated the country's anti-terror law.
The CPJ said it texted Uttar Pradesh Police Director-General Hitesh Awasthy for comment but did not receive any reply.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
50MP is Better than 200MP?
Mohammad Amir’s participation in T20I series against Ireland, England hangs in ..
Police arrest some lawyers after clash outside LHC
US wants basic human rights for Imran Khan, all other prisoners
Hajj season begins: Karachi Airport Set for Inaugural Flight
IHC orders Jail officials to shift Bushra Bibi to Adiala Jail from Bani Gala
Projects of worth $25b being implemented in Pakistan under CPEC framework: Ahsan
Saudi investors evince special interest in diverse fields
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 8 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 08 May 2024
Delegation of international investors meets Finance Minister
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
3 days ago -
Land degradation: A threat to food security
3 days ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
3 days ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
4 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
5 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
7 days ago
-
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
7 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
10 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
10 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
10 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
11 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
12 days ago