The Anandapuram police have reportedly taken into custody CPI(M) leaders including former corporator B Ganga Rao on Thursday. The incident allegedly occurred when the leaders were on their way to meet the farmers of Tarluvada, who had given their lands for Google's proposed data centre.

Members of the Visakhapatnam district committee of the CPI(M) strongly condemned the police action. In a statement, the CPI(M) termed the detention as undemocratic and alleged that leaders supporting the affected farmers were being targeted and forcibly taken to police stations.