Nagpur : Rejaz M. Sydeek, a 26-year-old activist affiliated with the Democratic Students Association (DSA) and an independent journalist from Kerala, has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) just days after being arrested by Nagpur Police. The arrest was initially linked to his social media posts critical of the Indian government and its military operations, particularly “Operation Sindoor” against Pakistan, reported the Maktoob Media.
Authorities have now pressed multiple charges against Rejaz, including Sections 149, 193, 347(1)(v), 347(2), and 347(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000; and Sections 38 and 39 of the UAPA, 1967.
Nagpur Police have transferred the case to the jurisdiction of the Special Inspector General for Naxal Operations. They allege that Rejaz is linked to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and accuse him of promoting radical ideologies, spreading seditious content, and possessing banned literature.
Materials seized from Rejaz’s possession include books such as He Who Defied Death: Life and Times of G.N. Sai Baba, The Great Legacy of Marxism-Leninism, and Only People Make Their Own History with an introduction by Marxist thinker Aijaz Ahmad. Authorities also discovered a letter from Nazariya, a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist journal, advocating revolutionary resistance and criticizing military operations like Operation Kagaar, labeling them as assaults on Adivasi communities.
The letter called for peace talks with CPI (Maoist), demanded a ceasefire, and raised issues such as land alienation and caste-based violence. Police also flagged a donation appeal via UPI for pamphlet printing, and slogans like “Declare a Ceasefire with CPI (Maoist)!” and “Stop the Encirclement of Karregutta!”
Additionally, Rejaz is accused of making provocative social media posts, including one that read: “this is a child!!!! targeting kids is serving justice??? indian army murdabad!!!!” The posts were interpreted by authorities as anti-government and anti-military, with repeated calls to “bury Hindutva” and establish a “people’s democracy.”
Two days prior to his Nagpur arrest, police raided his home in Kochi, Kerala, seizing literature, mobile devices, and memory cards. Police have now sought a 10-day custody extension for further interrogation.
In response, the Rejaz Solidarity Forum staged a protest in Kochi, demanding his release and asserting that “journalism is not a crime.”
