The incident involving the arrest and detention of 600 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in Guntur during their protest on February 9, 2024, highlights a concerning infringement on the right to peaceful assembly and expression. Despite the protestors' legitimate demands for governmental resolution of their grievances, the response from law enforcement appears to have been disproportionate and potentially punitive, raising questions about the protection of fundamental rights in democratic processes. Media coverage of the event underscores its significance and the need for impartial investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the protestors' detention.

While acknowledging the state's authority to maintain public order, such measures must be exercised within the bounds of law and respect for human rights. Given the apparent implications for freedom of expression and assembly, HRDA appealed to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take suomoto cognizance of this incident and invoke its powers under Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, to conduct an independent inquiry into the incident.