Overview
- Police in Alluri Sitaramaraju district said they questioned nearly eight students who visited the Maredumilli encounter area on Friday and then allowed them to leave, describing the step as a precaution during increased Maoist activity.
- Earlier on Friday, 12 students from several universities headed to the site were stopped at Chintoor, taken to a police station for hours, and released after officers said access was unsafe due to ongoing Operation Sambhav.
- Students reported being followed after their release and alleged that locals were mobilised to obstruct their visit, while police said residents protesting Maoist bandh calls confronted the group and were brought in to defuse tensions.
- Human Rights Forum Andhra Pradesh issued a statement condemning the detention of the 12-member fact‑finding team at the tri‑state border.
- Officials said Operation Sambhav has continued in the area, with security forces reporting six Maoists killed on November 18 and seven on November 19, as allegations about the circumstances of Madvi Hidma’s death remain unverified.