Andhra Pradesh police detain students on a fact-finding mission into Maoist Hidma’s killing

A group of students from Osmania, Kakatiya and Central Universities were detained by police in Chintoor, ASR district, while attempting to visit the site of Maoist leader Madivi Hidma’s recent killing. Their vehicle was blocked by locals protesting against Maoists, who also burnt an effigy on the Chintoor–Maredumilli road, leading to tension in the area.

Kothagudem: A group of students from Osmania, Kakatiya and Central Universities who were on a fact-finding mission into the killing of top Maoist Madivi Hidma were detained by police at Chintoor of ASR district in Andhra Pradesh.

The student group faced protests from locals, who shouted slogans against the Maoists and blocked the students’ vehicle towards Maredumilli forests where the encounter took place recently.

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The protesters also burnt an effigy of the Maoists on the Chintoor-Maredumilli main road leading to the mild tension at the village. Then the police intervened and took the students to Chintoor police station.

The police claimed that the students were taken to the police station as there was a possibility of villagers attacking them. The students said they had released an open letter a few days ago regarding their visit to Maredumilli to find facts about the encounter and make them public.

Speaking to the media, the students appealed to the government to allow them to visit the encounter spot. Otherwise they would stage a protest at the TDP office in Hyderabad, they warned.