The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has condemned the arrest of Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) leaders by the Tirupati Police in connection with the setting up of banners related to the Committee’s 20th State meeting. The case was registered on January 09, 2026, by Tirupati East police and APCLC’s vice-president and advocate Kranti Chaitanya and a printing press owner D. Mohana Krishna were arrested.

Cases were registered against other leaders of APCLC including its State president Hemadri, the 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 BNS and other Acts on charges of insulting the national flag among others. The banners depicted the opposition towards the ideology of the ruling dispensation and were not violative of any law, they said.

The HRF leaders said that the banners did not incite any wrong feeling against any religion and demanded the immediate release of the arrested APCLC leaders and also withdrawal of cases against the Committee leaders.

Published – January 18, 2026 08:30 pm IST