Communist Party of India (Marxist) Telangana secretary John Wesley was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 30, ahead of the party’s planned “Chalo Assembly” protest. The demonstration was meant to coincide with the start of the Monsoon session of the Telangana Assembly and highlight the Anajipur land dispute. Police action prevented Wesley from leaving his residence in Musheerabad, sparking anger among CPI(M) workers who accused the state government of curbing democratic rights. Videos of Wesley’s house arrest quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread criticism from party supporters across the state.

The CPI(M) has alleged that land in Anajipur, located near Ramoji Film City in Ranga Reddy district, was handed over to the film city management through irregular means, depriving poor families of their rightful holdings. Since July 2025, the party’s district committee has been organizing large-scale demonstrations, demanding that the land be restored to local residents who have been cultivating it for years. Wesley, who had earlier been arrested during the agitation, reiterated that the party would not stop its struggle until justice was delivered. Supporters gathered outside his residence raised slogans against the government, insisting that the protests would intensify if their demands were ignored.

Despite the police clampdown, protests have continued in Anajipur and surrounding areas with both local residents and CPI(M) activists participating actively. The party maintains that the land belongs to the poor and vulnerable communities who depend on it for survival. Wesley stressed that the fight would persist until the government took concrete steps to resolve the dispute, warning that the CPI(M) would not withdraw from its agitation without a clear assurance. The incident has fueled political tensions in Telangana, with opposition parties accusing the government of high-handedness in dealing with popular movements.