37 Left Leaders Detained En Route to Protest Against Data Centre Land Acquisition in Andhra Pradesh

Police in Visakhapatnam detained 37 leaders and activists from the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and other Left parties on Monday as they travelled to Tarluvada village in Anandapuram mandal. The group intended to inspect the site of a proposed data centre project and meet with local farmers over land acquisition issues.

According to the Left parties, the rally began at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Visakhapatnam and proceeded towards Tarluvada. Police intercepted the participants near Tarluvada Junction on the Anandapuram–Pendurthi National Highway and took them to the Anandapuram police station, preventing the planned meeting.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) district committee condemned the detentions and called for the immediate release of those taken into custody. CITU alleged that land had been forcibly acquired from farmers and that compensation had not been paid to several affected landowners. The Left parties further alleged that the proposed data centre project could harm the environment, including groundwater resources and local temperatures. They also expressed concern over the deployment of a large police force in villages surrounding Tarluvada.

Following their release later that evening, CPI and CPI(M) leaders criticised the police action, claiming it curtailed democratic rights. They reiterated their demand for the government to halt the project and address the concerns raised by farmers and residents. Police provided no official comment on the detentions or the allegations.