35 women civil rights activists arrested

Wednesday, October 25, 2017 
Visakhapatnam

Over 35 women civil rights activists from various organizations such as Chaitanya Mahila Sangam, Progressive Organization for Women, Mahila Chetana and AIDWA were arrested by police today.

They were arrested after they staged a dharna at the Gandhi statue near GVMC office and clashed with groups of another set of protesting Adivasis. The members of CMS have been protesting for last two months after their names and photographs were printed in posters and flexies branding them as Maoists sympathizers.

CMS president Lalitha and general secretary Annapurna said three posters were released so far in the name of ‘Vidyarthini Chaitnaya Sangham’, ‘Adivasi Vidyarthini Chaitanya Sangham’ and ‘Adivasi Vidyarthi Sangham’. There was mild tension when members of women organization pulled down and burnt the flexies and banners depicting them as Maoist sympathizers that were set up at the venue by the adivasis.

The arrested were later released in the evening.