However, Anakapalli district, carved out with 24 mandals from the old Visakhapatnam district, presents a disturbing picture. Tribal communities reside in eight of these mandals, yet these areas were excluded from Fifth Schedule protection under the Constitution. This deliberate exclusion has left Adivasi lands vulnerable to corporate interests, land mafias, and political land brokers.
The exclusion of these areas from Pader ITDA administration has further weakened institutional safeguards. The introduction of a web-based land records system in the name of technological reform has made manipulation of land records easier, opening new avenues for land grabbing at the click of a mouse.
Land Grab Attempt in Chatarjipuram
In Chatarjipuram village of Rolugunta mandal in Anakapalli district, members of the Gadaba tribe — recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) — have cultivated 10 acres of dry land for generations.
Since 2022, Mr. Vara Nookaraju, a ZPTC member of the then ruling YSRCP, allegedly purchased this land from third parties, attempted to seize this land. Between 2022 and 2025, he arrived multiple times with hired rowdies and destroyed standing crops belonging to Gadaba tribal farmers. On October 20, 2025, during Deepavali, he returned with armed associates and again began destroying crops. A hut was set on fire. Reports indicate that his associates were intoxicated. A confrontation followed, during which Mr. Nookaraju died.
Following the incident, seven tribal persons — including two women — were arrested the same day and taken to Kothakota Police Station. They were kept in illegal custody until October 22.
During this period, they were subjected to severe custodial torture by the Circle Inspector (CI) and Sub-Inspector (SI) to extract confessional statements. In order to evade mandatory video recording of arrests and custody, as directed by the Supreme Court, the detainees were confined in a separate room.
They were produced before the Magistrate only on October 23, while police records claimed the arrests were made on October 22 — raising serious questions about procedural violations and deliberate falsification. This is a blatant case of state repression targeting Adivasi peasants defending their land.
In a further act of intimidation, Advocate P.S. Ajay Kumar — who has worked for Adivasis in the district and state for more than 40 years and is currently State Vice President of the All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice — was falsely implicated as the ninth accused and arrested on December 11, 2025.
CPI (ML) Liberation Intervention
Comrade Raja Ram Singh, Member of Parliament from Karakat (Bihar) representing CPI (ML) Liberation, wrote to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on December 4, 2025, demanding an impartial inquiry into the illegal detention and custodial torture of the Gadaba Adivasis. On January 4, 2026, a massive public meeting was organised in Anakapalli. More than 700 Dalits, Adivasis, and agricultural workers participated in solidarity with the arrested tribal and Advocate Ajay Kumar.
Comrade Sudama Prasad, MP from Arrah (Bihar), addressed the gathering and strongly condemned the repression. He demanded withdrawal of the fabricated cases and an end to anti-tribal land policies. He pointed out that exclusion of tribal habitations from Fifth Schedule protection, combined with corporate-driven land policies of both the state and central governments, has paved the way for systematic land grabbing.
Leaders from CPI and CPM also expressed solidarity. Comrade Bugatha Bangarao, State Secretary of CPI (ML) Liberation in Andhra Pradesh, and Comrade D. Harinath, district in-charge, spoke in detail about the growing nexus between land mafias, political power, and administrative machinery in the district.
The meeting unanimously resolved to intensify the struggle to defend Adivasi land, dignity, and constitutional rights. The meeting demanded:
1. Judicial inquiry into illegal detention and custodial torture
2. Immediate withdrawal of fabricated cases against tribal peasants and Advocate Ajay Kumar
3. Inclusion of affected tribal villages under Fifth Schedule protection
4. Restoration and protection of Adivasi land rights
5. Strict action against officials responsible for custodial torture.
(With inputs from Ajay Kumar)
