NHRC seeks report from DGP, Collector on arrest and detention of activists

Key points

• The arrest and detention of five persons over a week ago, for stopping the tree felling near the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) Park in Hyderabad, has attracted the attention of the Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
• The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about the incident and issued notices to the Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) and Hyderabad district Collector, asking them to file a detailed report in two weeks’ time.
• On the intervening night between May 12 & May 13, 2026, a person, R.
• Durga Prasad, was detained by the police, when he was returning home after being part of a group effort to stop tree felling near the park.
• Along with several others, he formed a human chain around the tree being felled, and prevented the workers from hacking it.