The SDM of Mant dropped the charges against the four accused as the police was unable to complete the inquiry within the prescribed time period of six months.
A Mathura court on Tuesday dropped the charges of "breach of peace" against Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan and three others who were detained by the Uttar Pradesh police while they were on their way to Hathras to meet the family of a Dalit woman who was allegedly raped and murdered last year. The Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Mant, Ram Datt Ram dropped the charges against the four as the police was unable to complete the inquiry within the prescribed time period of six months. The accused were arrested by the police under the charge of "breach of peace" and were produced before the sub-divisional magistrate, after which they were sent to judicial custody. Later, they were booked under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). They were charged of inciting communal riots and violation of anti-terror law UAPA as well as Information Technology (IT) Act.
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