UP police book journalist, 3 others under anti-terror law

According to the Uttar Pradesh Police's FIR, there was an attempt made to stoke communal tension in the wake of the Hathras case.

The Uttar Pradesh police has invoked the stringent UAPA law against Delhi-based Malayalee journalist Sidiqque Kappan and three others who were arrested on Tuesday. 

The 4 suspects have been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The group was travelling to Hathras to cover the situation following the alleged gang rape and death of the 20-year-old Dalit girl.

According to the FIR, there was an attempt made to stoke communal tension in the wake of the Hathras case. 

During their questioning, the suspects revealed they had links with the PFI and its associate organisation Campus Front of India, the police claimed, adding that they recovered posters which read, 'Am I not India's daughter?', from the arrested persons. 

The FIR also highlights that the suspects were operating a website called 'carrd.co' which sourced funding in a non-transparent manner, to incite riots. 

19 FIRs have so far been filed over the Hathras incident by the Uttar Pradesh police, facing criticism over the handling of the case. The police has alleged an attempt to disturb peace in the state and listed sedition, conspiracy and promoting religious hatred in the main FIR or First Information Report filed in the incident.