Kerala Police visits Journalist Siddique Kappan’s home; Says will visit again after midnight
Malappuram: A recent late-night warning by Kerala police about a supposed routine inspection at the residence of journalist Siddique Kappan has triggered concerns among civil society groups, media unions, and the journalist’s family, who describe the move as abnormal and distressing.
According to Kappan and his wife, Raihanath, two police officers arrived at their home in Vengara, Malappuram, around 6:30 pm on Saturday, April 13. The officers claimed to be from Vengara and Tirur police stations and informed the family that a team from Malappuram would visit their home after midnight to verify Kappan’s presence. No clear reason was offered for the visit, which the officers described as a “routine check” linked to Kappan’s past legal case.
Speaking to local reporters, Raihanath Kappan recounted the unsettling exchange. “They asked if Siddique was home and whether he would be there after 12 am. When we questioned the purpose of such a late visit and whether it was linked to any central agencies like the ED or NIA, they simply brushed it off as a routine procedure. But it didn’t feel routine at all,” she said.
Siddique Kappan, who was released on bail in February 2023 after spending more than two years in a Uttar Pradesh jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), also raised concerns about the nature and timing of the visit.
“The Vengara police station is just two and a half kilometres from my home. If they wanted to verify something, they could have called. Instead, they asked around the neighbourhood and created panic. When they arrived, they asked if I was Siddique Kappan. I confirmed and invited them inside, but they declined. They said a team would come again after midnight for a ‘regular check.’ A police visit at that hour doesn’t seem regular,” he said.
Kappan said he immediately contacted his lawyer and shared the officers’ details. He questioned the motive behind such a visit, stating that he is a public figure and has always cooperated with law enforcement. “I live with my wife and two children. We have nothing to hide. But we do expect dignity and basic respect, especially after all we’ve already endured,” he said.
Raihanath added that since Kappan’s release, the family has faced consistent police monitoring. “They follow him, take his pictures in public, and visit our house repeatedly. Even though he complied with the condition of weekly reporting to the police station, the visits haven’t stopped. But planning a visit after midnight goes beyond any reasonable limit,” she said.
After the officers left, the couple informed their lawyer, who contacted the police seeking clarification. The officers reportedly repeated that it was a routine check but gave no official documentation or legal reasoning behind the timing of the proposed visit.
The incident has drawn criticism from journalist groups and civil society. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), of which Kappan is a member, issued a statement condemning the police action. The union said such steps deviate from standard procedures and should not be normalized.
The case has revived concerns about the treatment of journalists in India, especially those who face charges under harsh laws for their work. Kappan was arrested in October 2020 by the Uttar Pradesh police while on his way to Hathras to report on the gangrape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman. He was later charged under UAPA and accused of conspiracy. His prolonged detention drew national and international attention. In 2023, the Supreme Court granted him bail, noting that he had the right to free speech and that there was insufficient evidence to justify continued incarceration.
As of Monday evening, the Kerala police have not issued any official statement about the purpose of the visit or why it was scheduled for such an unusual time.
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Wife of slain Navy officer appeals for peace after Pahalgam terror attack
Says don’t want hate against Muslims
New Delhi / Karnal: Days after losing her husband in the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Himanshi Narwal — the wife of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal — made a moving appeal for communal harmony, urging people not to target any particular community in the aftermath of the tragedy.
In a video shared by news agency ANI, Himanshi, a PhD scholar from Gurugram, said, “We don’t want people going against Muslims or Kashmiris. We want peace and only peace. Of course, we want justice.”
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal was among the 26 defence personnel and civilians killed in the April 22 attack. He had just recently married Himanshi on April 16. The couple was on their honeymoon in Pahalgam when the incident occurred.
His mortal remains were brought to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport with full military honours, where they were received by Navy officials, grieving family members, and political leaders, including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
An emotional Himanshi broke down as she saluted and embraced her husband’s coffin. Fighting back tears, she said, “Let his soul rest in peace. He lived a good life. He made us really proud, and we should continue to uphold that pride in every way.”
The final rites were conducted on Wednesday evening in Lieutenant Narwal’s hometown, Karnal in Haryana. His younger sister, 21-year-old Shristi, lit the funeral pyre in the presence of thousands of mourners. Navy personnel paid tribute with a gun salute, while chants of “Bharat ka veer amar rahe” and “Pakistan Murdabad” echoed through the crowd.
Speaking to Chief Minister Saini at the cremation site, Shristi expressed her pain, saying, “He was alive for some time, but no one came to save him… I want them dead,” referring to the attackers.
