Days after the Telangana police arrested an assistant professor who worked at Osmania University, claiming that he had suspected links with Maoists, officials on Tuesday took Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika (TVV) president Bandari Maddileti, into custody.
The police said that Telangana Praja Front state vice-president Nalamasi Krishna, was also arrested and claimed that the duo were encouraging students to allegedly go underground and join the CPI (Maoist) party.
Police picked up Krishna from his house at Baghlingampally in Hyderabad and later, the duo were shifted to Gadwal to be produced before a court for judicial remand, as the district police is investigating the case. Searches were also conducted at the residence, and some documents were seized.
Speaking to Express, Gadwal SP Apoorva Rao claimed, “They have been actively working for the Maoist party and supporting them with recruitment, collection of party funds, and various other activities.”
#Telangana Vidyarthi VedikaState president B. #Maddileti was arrested by the police for allegedly keeping links with #Maoists. #Telangana Praja Front State vice president N. Krishna also arrested along. pic.twitter.com/zIVQrIqEav
— Mohd Lateef Babla (@lateefbabla) October 15, 2019
Meanwhile, the wives of the duo filed a habeas corpus petition in the form of a lunch motion with the Telangana High Court, alleging that the family members were not told about the reasons for the arrest, or the whereabouts of the two arrested.
The HC then asked the authorities to present those who had been detained or arrested in connection with the case, in front of the court.
Family members of TVV President Maddileti & TPF vice president Nalamala Krishna, who were arrested from #Hyderabad for alleged links with Maoists, said they will stage protest if the two are not produced in court pic.twitter.com/NrylgEz5uD
— Shiva_TheHindu (@Shiva_TheHindu) October 15, 2019
It was last week that the police registered a case against Maddileti, under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), claiming that he had links with Maoists.
This was followed by the arrest of Assistant Professor K Jagan, who was picked up from his residence in Hyderabad. He was a member of Viplava Rachayitula Sangham (Virasam), a revolutionary writers' association.
Several human rights activists including members of Virasam and the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) have protested the alleged high-handedness of the police, and dubbed this as a clampdown on dissent.
They have also alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government was cracking down on human rights activists, because they were speaking up against the exploration for uranium mining in the Nallamala forest.