Place: Hyderabad

Date: 21/11/2025

To

The Hon’ble Chairperson

National Human Rights Commission

Manav Adhikar Bhawan, Block-C

GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi – 110 023  

Emails - covdnhrc@nic.in, covdnhrc@hub.nic.in, 

nhrc.india@nic.in 

Subject: Complaint under Section 12(a) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 – Urgent demand for an independent judicial inquiry into the alleged fake encounter killings of 13 Maoist cadres, including senior leader Madvi Hidma, his wife Madakam Raje, and 11 others by Andhra Pradesh Police on 18 and 19 November 2025 in Maredumilli forests, Alluri Sitarama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh  

Respected Chairperson,

I, Dr B. Karthik Navayan, Advocate and Human Rights Activist, residing at Himayath Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana – 500029, Email: navayan@gmail.com; Mobile: 09346677007, most respectfully submit this complaint in public interest for immediate suo motu cognizance and intervention by the Hon’ble Commission.

1.    On 18 November 2025, six cadres of the CPI (Maoist) were killed in an alleged encounter near Pamuleru stream, Nelloru village, Maredumilli Agency, Alluri Sitarama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh. 

Those killed were:

(i) Madvi Hidma (alias Hidmallu/Santosh), Central Committee Member;

(ii) his wife Madakam Raje (alias Rajakka);

(iii) Deve, (iv) Lakmal, (v) Malla, and (vi) Kamlu.

The Hindu, 19 November 2025: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/alluri-sitarama-raju-andhra-maoists-encounter-killed-death/article70293337.ece 

2. On the very next day, 19 November 2025, seven more Maoist cadres were killed in another alleged encounter in the adjoining Maredumilli forests near G.M. Valasa village. Those killed were:

(i) Metturi Joga Rao (alias Tech Shankar), Central Committee Member;

(ii) Jyothi (alias Saritha); (iii) Suresh (alias Ramesh); (iv) Lokesh (alias Ganesh); (v) Sainu (alias Vasu); (vi) Anitha; and (vii) Shammi.

The Hindu, 20 November 2025: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/maoists-killed-encounter-police-andhra-pradesh-maredumilli-forests/article70297648.ece 

3. Credible reports from activists, tribal leaders (including Soni Sori), and several Left political parties strongly allege that these were staged fake encounters. It is claimed that the deceased were picked up from urban areas, disarmed, taken to the forest, and executed in cold blood to simulate combat. These allegations have been widely reported.

The Hindu, 21 November 2025: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/left-parties-demand-judicial-probe-into-fake-encounters-at-maredumilli-in-andhra-pradesh/article70303366.ece 

4. Such killings, if proved fake, constitute gross violations of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and amount to extra-judicial executions. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. State of Maharashtra (2014) 10 SCC 1 has laid down binding 16-point guidelines for the investigation of encounter deaths, including mandatory magisterial inquiry under Section 176 CrPC (now Section 196 BNSS), independent FIR against police personnel, preservation of evidence, video-recorded post-mortem, etc. The Commission’s own guidelines, dated 1993 and subsequently revised, require reports of custodial/encounter deaths to be submitted within 48 hours.

5. These killings also violate India’s obligations under international law, particularly:

a.   Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of life;  

b.   UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions (1989);  

c.    Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990);  

d.   The Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016).

In view of the above, I most respectfully pray that the Hon’ble Commission be pleased to:

a.   Take immediate suo motu cognizance of the complaint;

b.   Direct an independent judicial inquiry, preferably by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, into the circumstances leading to the death of all 13 persons;

c.    Direct the State of Andhra Pradesh to preserve all evidence, including bodies (if not already cremated/buried), weapons, ballistic material, post-mortem reports, inquest panchnamas, and the encounter site;

d.   Direct registration of FIRs against the police personnel involved if prima facie material discloses the Commission of cognizable offences;

e.   Direct video-recorded second post-mortem by an independent team of forensic experts;

f.     Recommend interim compensation of ₹10 lakhs to the next of kin of each deceased;

g.   Monitor the investigation and ensure it is completed within a defined time frame.

h.   Pass any other order(s) as the Commission deems fit in the interest of justice and human rights.

I am ready to provide any further information or assistance the Commission may require.

  Yours sincerely,  

Sd/-

Dr B. Karthik Navayan

Advocate & Human Rights Activist

Himayath Nagar, Hyderabad – 500029

Mobile: 09346677007

Email: navayan@gmail.com