The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has condemned the arrest of Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) leaders by the Tirupati police in connection with putting up banners related to the 20th state meeting of the committee. A case was registered on 9 January 2026 by the Tirupati East police and APCLC vice-president and advocate Kranti Chaitanya and print shop owner D. Mohana Krishna were arrested.
Cases have been registered against other APCLC leaders including its state president Hemadri, HRF said.
According to HRF state general secretary Y. Rajesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana coordination committee member A. Chandrasekhar and state secretary G. Rohith, the police registered cases under various sections of the BNS and other laws, among others, on allegations of desecration of the national flag. The banners depicted opposition to the ideology of the ruling dispensation and did not violate any law, they said.
The HRF leaders said that the banners did not create any ill feelings against any religion and demanded the immediate release of the arrested APCLC leaders as well as the withdrawal of cases against the Committee leaders.
Published – 18 Jan 2026 20:30 IST
