Siddique Kappan 

Journalist 

Uttar Pradesh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on April 30, 2021, regarding inhuman treatment and illegal handcuffing of journalist Mr. Siddique Kappan at KM Medical College Hospital, Mathura. Mr. Kappan is also the elected secretary of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. 

Mr. Kappan was arrested on October 2020 while he was on his way to cover Hathras gang rape case. He was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the Uttar Pradesh police and has since been imprisoned in Mathura Jail. 

On April 20, Mr. Kappan collapsed in the bathroom and was taken to KM Medical College Hospital, Mathura for treatment where he was found to be Covid positive. While undergoing treatment in the hospital he was handcuffed to the bed and was not allowed to walk to get food or even go to the toilet and was forced to urinate in a plastic bottle. It caused his health condition to worsen. 

The treatment meted to Mr. Kappan violates the Right to Life with Dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It also violates the United Nations Standard Minimum Rule for Treatment of Prisoners.