Families of Hathras Case Detainees Seek Supreme Court’s Intervention for Their Release

New Delhi, 06 Oct 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: Civil society activists and families of detainees held in the alleged Hathras conspiracy case on Tuesday sought Supreme Court’s intervention for their release. Four people, including journalist Siddique Kappan, are in jail without trial for the last one year.

The families held a press conference at the Press Club demanding their immediate release. They reiterated that the case of conspiracy is baseless and they have been targeted falsely.

Also Tuesday, a ‘Black Day Protest’ meeting in support of Siddique Kappan was organised by the Press Club of India, Kerala Union of Working Journalists and Delhi Union of Journalists at the premises of the Press Club.

On October 5 last year four men — Atiq-ur Rehman of Muzaffarnagar, national treasurer of the Campus Front; Masood Ahmed of Bahraich, state general secretary of Campus Front in Delhi; Arman, a cab driver; and Siddique Kappan, a Delhi-based journalist from Kerala — were arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police when they were on their way to Hathras to meet the family of the Dalit girl who was allegedly gang-raped by four upper-caste men. The girl later died in a Delhi hospital and hurriedly cremated in her village, allegedly against the wishes of her family.

Sanjida Rahman, the wife of Atiq-ur-Rehman, raised the issue of health concerns he is facing in jail and appealed for his immediate release. “My husband has a heart condition. I don’t want him to end up like Stan Swami,” she said, referring to the Christian priest who recently died in jail where he was held in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Apporvanand of Delhi University expressed his dismay at the continued incarceration of the activists saying, “most unfortunate thing for a nation is to observe anniversaries to mark unjust incarceration of its political prisoners.” He demanded that the Supreme Court should urgently intervene in the case of Kappan, Ateeq and others.

He linked the jailing of the activists with their religious identity as he said that “being Muslim in India has become a crime. They will always create an opportunity to put Muslims in jail.” said Prof Apporvanand.

“What crime did my husband commit?” asked Bushra Alam, the wife of Cabbie. “He is just a cab driver but he was arrested without any evidence because he is a Muslim.”
Rehman’s wife said she struggles to explain to her children the whereabouts of their father. “My children often ask where Papa is,” she said.

Rajya Sabha Member Dr Hanumanthala also expressed concern over Ateeq’s health. He lashed out at the government for keeping the activists in jail. “The jailing of activists shows that India is on a path to become a fascist country”. He accused the government of “having no regard to the constitution and democracy”.

“They are misusing the law in the name of nationalism,” he said.

Professor Nandita Narain urged the people to come out in solidarity with these political prisoners. “Justice delayed means justice denied,” she said.

Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission; and Ashwan Sadiq P of Campus Front of India also addressed the press conference.