
Naxals Demand Peace Talks As Forces Launch Massive Anti-Maoist Operation In Chhattisgarh
Last Updated:
This is the biggest operation launched by any of the security agencies in or around Chhattisgarh this year, an official said.
After a massive anti-Maoist operation was launched in the Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, the Naxals have called for peace talks.
A massive anti-Maoist operation involving around 10,000 personnel was launched in the Bastar region.
'Everyone wants the issue to be resolved through peace talks. Our party is always ready for peace talks. The central committee of our party had also issued letters regarding the peace process. We are continuously making efforts from our side to overcome the lack of trust," the outlawed CPI (Maoist)'s North-West Sub-Zonal Bureau in charge, Rupesh, said in a statement.
'However, the government's intentions seem different. Despite the possibility of resolving the issue through dialogue, the government is trying to solve it through repression and violence. As a result of this, a major military operation has been launched on the Bijapur-Telangana border. This operation should be stopped immediately, and the forces should be withdrawn," he added.
He urged the government to resolve the issue through dialogue.
'This path will lead to positive outcomes. We request the government to suspend the ongoing large-scale military operation being carried out in the name of resolving the issue through force, for a period of one month," the statement said.
The operation that started on Monday from Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh to the Karregutta hills in Telangana's Mulugu district has been going on for over 60 hours. Nearly 5,000 soldiers, along with support teams, are taking part in it.
First Published:
April 25, 2025, 15:21 IST

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
CRPF officer killed in IED blast near Jharkhand border
1 2 3 4 Rourkela/Ranchi: An assistant sub-inspector of CRPF was killed in an IED explosion during an area domination exercise in Sundargarh district near the border with Jharkhand early on Saturday. The deceased, Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) from Kishinagar, Uttar Pradesh, was critically injured when the IED, suspected to have been planted by Maoists, detonated around 6 am at Silikuta near Banko Langalakata in Saranda forest. Singh, who was posted with CRPF's 134 Battalion, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Rourkela. The operation was launched following intelligence inputs about Maoist movement in the area. A joint team of CRPF and special operations group (SOG) was conducting the operation when the IED blast took place. "A case has been registered at K Balang police station and investigation has started," said Nitesh Wadhwani, SP (Rourkela). DIG (western range), Brijesh Kumar Rai, visited the site following the incident. The area has been under heightened security following the looting of around 5 tonnes of explosives by Maoists from the Banko stone quarry on May 27. Security forces have since then recovered about four tonnes of the stolen explosives. On May 30, a security personnel was injured in a landmine explosion during a joint search operation, while a villager sustained injuries in a similar incident the following day. Singh's body was airlifted to Ranchi, where he was accorded a guard of honour before being handed over to his family members. Jharkhand governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, chief minister Hemant Soren and senior officials on Saturday laid wreaths on the mortal remains of martyred CRPF officer in Ranchi. Speaking to the media, Gangwar said it was distressing to learn about the incident. "The state govt is trying to prevent such occurrences," he said. Soren said anti-Maoist operations are going on in Jharkhand and neighbouring states and police have achieved successes in several of them. "The incident leading to Singh's martyrdom is heartbreaking. The state govt would stand by the affected family," he said. Inspector general Michael Raj said the operation against extremists would continue. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .


Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
In Nilambur fray, Vijayan pick vs Congress stalwart vs ‘spoiler'
Nilambur is dripping in rain. It is quite a while since Kerala saw a wet election and like a well-begun monsoon gone awry, the bypoll in the Nilambur constituency seems to be turning less and less predictable. The state Assembly is into its slog overs — and this by-election wasn't meant to shake the earth, just set the tone for the coming big polls due early next year. The campaign was being watched more for its atmospherics than the outcome. The Opposition Congress-led UDF was a clear favourite here. Its candidate Aryadan Shoukath is a second-generation leader from a steadfast Congress family of this old Malabar teak town with considerable Muslim presence. His late father Aryadan Mohammad had won eight times as an MLA from here, going on to serve as a minister, and a trouble-shooter, in the erstwhile Congress-led coalition regime. Shoukath nurtured his father's formidable political legacy. As head of the Nilambur Municipality and before it was upgraded the panchayat, he caught national attention for his literacy, child welfare and health schemes. His support base includes Adivasis, who departed from custom and came down from the hills to attend his daughter's wedding in 2015. Many believed that Shoukath would have a smooth sailing in the bypoll. But what appeared to be a walkover is now looking like a contest, thanks to rival candidate M Swaraj of the ruling CPI(M). Handpicked by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the choice 'cannot go wrong', say comrades. Several leaders from the CPI(M)-led LDF speak in unison for their chief, who seeks next year a third successive term, an uphill task in the shifty state. The June 19 Nilambur bypoll is no bellwether but its sheer proximity to the Assembly polls has pepped up the campaigns of the key contenders. That the CPI(M) is on overdrive is evident in the briefest of pit stops. In Pothukkallu panchayat at Kuttamkulam Kunnu, a tiny spot beyond the state highway and Google Maps, Swaraj's roadshow has a ten-minute stop which cannot be better packaged. What follows could be the envy of event managers. In all of three minutes, the candidate is ceremonially ushered in by a percussion ensemble in traditional temple wear and serially garlanded by senior comrades. Next, he makes his two-minute campaign pitch and stops abruptly to direct a local talent to croon a one-minute snatch from the eternal Communist hymn for martyrdom, 'Balikuteerangale'. Within seconds, a box of sweets pops up and is emptied in no time, provoking a punchline from Swaraj: 'Ladoos are already here. We have won.' Earlier in the day, the Congress candidate's campaign looked less organised but more free flowing. At street meetings in his home turf, Shoukath slips out of his car almost unnoticed and instantly merges with clusters of voters many of whom he seems to know by first name. More than handshakes, he hugs and that gives him extra proximity to the voter ear into which he whispers. The hush-hush adds a certain mystique to the personal contact. After this, his amplified articulation from the makeshift dais is a mere formality. Shoukath is no pushover, says an insider who pauses to caution that there is a potential 'spoiler' in the fray, P V Anvar, the previous legislator whose resignation necessitated the byoll. Spurned by the state's two major fronts, the well-connected businessman-turned-politician, Anvar, contesting again as an Independent, has put up text-heavy hoardings that list in bullet points his pique and promise. Barely anyone halts to look up and read through the frozen power point presentation, though. Otherwise, it would have caused traffic snarls in this hilly terrain. A recurring presence on the winding roads is the BJP-led NDA's decked up vehicle seeking votes for its candidate Mohan George. Recorded audio plays in loop and the vehicle is empty but for the dutiful soul at the wheel. The BJP, led by state unit head Rajeev Chandrasekhar, must be keen to cross the Vindhyas, but that may not happen hurriedly across the Nilambur hills.


Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Americans march in nationwide protest ahead of Trump's military parade
* Largest outpouring of protests against Trump since his return to power * Protests come on day of military parade in Washington * Minnesota protests canceled after lawmaker assassination, Walz calls it politically motivated * Texas says it identified credible threat against state lawmakers * Critics label parade as authoritarian and wasteful amid Trump's cost-cutting agenda WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK, - Hundreds of thousands of Americans protested President Donald Trump at rallies and marches in major cities from New York to Los Angeles on Saturday, a day marred by the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota and conflict in the Middle East. The protests marked the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump 's presidency since he returned to power in January, and came the same day that thousands of military personnel, vehicles and aircraft will roll through and fly above Washington, D.C., in a unusual display of American might. The parade will honor the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary as well as the president's 79th birthday. But Trump's hopes for a day of celebration have been punctuated by violence and discord. National Guard troops and U.S. Marines are on guard in Los Angeles, having been ordered there by Trump to secure the heavily Democratic city amid protests over his immigration policies - a deployment that California Governor Gavin Newsom has challenged in court. Meanwhile, Israel on Saturday pounded Iran with a second barrage of strikes in a bid to destroy its nuclear program after Iran retaliated with strikes the evening before, stoking fears of a mushrooming conflict between the two nations. Anti-Trump groups planned nearly 2,000 demonstrations across the country to coincide with the parade. Many are taking place under the theme "No Kings," asserting that no individual is above the law. All planned "No Kings" protests in Minnesota were canceled following that Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said was the "politically motivated assassination" of one Democratic lawmaker and wounding of a second. Authorities in Minnesota said that flyers promoting the protests were found in the suspected gunman's car. A massive manhunt was under way. Trump condemned the shootings, saying in a social media post: "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America." The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement it had identified a credible threat against state lawmakers planning to attend a Saturday protest, and had evacuated the state capitol and its grounds. People in Washington for the parade encountered a massive security presence, with some 18.5 miles of 8-foot -high black fencing, much of it reinforced with concrete traffic barriers, cordoning off streets and surrounding landmarks including the Washington Monument. The celebrations will cost the U.S. Army between $25 million and $45 million, U.S. officials have told Reuters. That includes the parade itself as well as the cost of moving equipment and housing and feeding the troops. Critics have called the parade an authoritarian display of power that is wasteful, especially given Trump has said he wants to slash costs throughout the federal government. Bryan Henrie, a Trump supporter, flew in from Texas to celebrate the Army's anniversary and did not see any issues with tanks rolling down the streets of Washington. 'I don't see a controversy. I will celebrate safety and stability any day over anarchy,' 61-year-old Henrie said. 'SHAME! SHAME!' In Los Angeles, a large crowd of protesters faced a large contingent of Marines guarding the Roybal federal building downtown, the site of clashes between protesters and officers earlier this week. Standing about 10 feet away from the Marines, the crowd yelled in unison, 'Shame! Shame!' and 'Marines, get out of LA!' Despite rain, thousands of people of all ages turned out in and around Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, many carrying homemade signs that played off the 'No Kings' theme. 'No crown for a clown,' said one. Actor Mark Ruffalo was among the demonstrators, wearing a hat that read "immigrant." 'We're seeing dehumanizing language towards LGBT people, towards people with autism, towards people with other disabilities, racial minorities, undocumented people,' said Cooper Smith, 20, from upstate New York. 'Somebody's got to show that most Americans are against this.' Thousands packed Chicago's Daley Plaza and surrounding streets on Saturday under the iconic Picasso statue. Some chanted "Lock him up!" in reference to the president. Allan Hallie, a 70-year-old retired gastroenterologist, traveled from the northwest Indiana town of Ogden Dunes to protest policies of the Trump administration. 'I am quite afraid of the direction of this country,' he said. Members of the far-right Proud Boys, ardent Trump supporters, appeared at an Atlanta "No Kings" protest, wearing the group's distinctive black and yellow colors. About 400 protesters, organized by a group called marched through Washington and gathered for a rally in a park opposite the White House. Trump had warned people against protesting at the parade itself, saying that "they're going to be met with very big force." Sunsara Taylor, a founder of RefuseFascism, told the crowd, 'Today we refuse to accept Donald Trump unleashing the military against the people of this country and in the streets of this country. We say, 'hell no.'' RARE SPECTACLE Military parades in the United States are rare. Other countries usually stage them to celebrate victories in battle or showcase military might. In 1991, tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War. Thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies from across the country and drones operated by the Secret Service will keep watch overhead. The U.S. Army has brought nearly 7,000 troops into Washington, along with 150 vehicles, including more than 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored vehicles, four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles, and artillery pieces including the M777 and M119. The flyover will include Apache and Black Hawk helicopters along with Chinooks. Older aircraft like the World War Two-era B-25 bomber and P-51 Mustang will also take part.