Rejaz M. Sydeek, a 26-year-old activist with the Democratic Students Association (DSA) and an independent journalist from Kerala, has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), days after his arrest by the Nagpur Police.
Rejaz was initially arrested in Nagpur over social media posts that were critical of the government and its military operation against Pakistan named “Operation Sindoor.” Following his arrest, he has now been charged under Sections 149, 193, 347(1)(v), 347(2), and 347(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000; and the 38 and 39 Sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
According to the police, the case has been handed over to the Police Sub-Inspector of Zone 3, Nagpur, and is now under the supervision of the Special Police Inspector General for Naxal Operations.
The authorities allege that Rejaz is linked to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and other so-called “radical ideologies.”
The police report claims that he was involved in spreading seditious content, maintaining connections with banned organizations, and possessing “incriminating” literature.
Among the materials seized during his arrest in Nagpur were books including “He Who Defied Death: Life and Times” of G.N. Sai Baba, “The Great Legacy of Marxism-Leninism: Lenin on the Socialist State”, and “Only People Make Their Own History”, which contains an introduction by the late Marxist intellectual Aijaz Ahmad.
The police also claimed to have found an English-language letter from Nazariya, a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist journal, which outlined their ideology and activities.
The letter, according to the police, advocated revolutionary theory and organized resistance to build a society free of exploitation, inequality, and oppression. It condemned Operation Kagaar describing it as a “war on Adivasi life.” It called for peace talks between the Indian state and the CPI (Maoist), demanding a ceasefire and highlighting issues such as land alienation, caste oppression, and state violence. It also mentioned plans to raise Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 to print and distribute a pamphlet across India, including a donation request via UPI. The slogans cited by police included “Declare a Ceasefire with CPI (Maoist)!” and “Stop the Encirclement of Karregutta!”
The police report further accuses Rejaz of posting content on social media that criticized the Indian government and military, referencing a post that included the line: “this is a child!!!! targeting kids is serving justice??? indian army murdabad!!!!” The post condemned both Operation Sindoor and Operation Kagaar.
According to police, his posts frequently used language such as “defeat the diehard Hindutva fascist forces” and “bury Hindutva,” in calls to establish a “people’s democracy.”
Two days after his arrest in Nagpur, Maharashtra Police raided Rejaz’s home in Kochi, Kerala. During the raid, officers seized a book by Karl Marx, Critiquing Brahmanism by K. Murali (Ajith), mobile phones, and memory cards.
The police have now requested 10 days of custody for further interrogation.
Meanwhile, the Rejaz Solidarity Forum, a collective supporting the journalist, held a protest in Kochi. Demonstrators raised slogans such as “journalism is not a crime” and “release Rejaz,” demanding his immediate release.
 and an independent journalist from Kerala, has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), days after his arrest by the Nagpur Police.){kind=link}