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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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
