As Maoists ask for ceasefire, security forces shell hills sheltering top insurgent leaders

Since April 21, the sound of whirring helicopters, heavy artillery fire and loud explosions have punctuated the silence of Karregutta hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, where arguably the largest anti-Maoist operation launched by Indian security forces is underway.

The security operation comes at a time when the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has repeatedly expressed its willingness to participate in peace talks.

Since March 28, the insurgent group has released four statements asking for a ceasefire. The latest statement, released on April 25, reiterated that the Central Committee, the top decision-making body of the CPI (Maoist), is willing to engage in peace talks.

“Despite the possibility of the problem being resolved through peace talks, the government is attempting to find a solution through violence and oppression,” the statement said. Taking note of the ongoing security operation, it added: “The operation should be halted immediately. The troops should be withdrawn. We request the government to resolve the problem through talks.”

However, the government has chosen to respond with more fire. Thousands of central paramilitary troopers have been sent to encircle the hills where officials believe the top Maoist leadership is hiding.

Two days after the operation was launched, I travelled to the foothills to observe the operation. On April 23, near Palam...

Read more