CPI demands independent judicial probe into killing of Maoists
The CPI on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) demanded an independent judicial probe into the killing of 27 Maoists, including top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao.
Taking to X, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja quoted Home Minister Amit Shah's post where he said security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists. Among them was Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist.
CPI strongly condemns the cold-blooded killing of a senior Maoist leader along with several Adivasis in Chhattisgarh. It is yet another instance of extrajudicial action carried out under the guise of counterinsurgency operations.
The repeated use of lethal force instead of… pic.twitter.com/qWr5HzPlIH — D. Raja (@ComradeDRaja) May 21, 2025
Mr. Raja said the killing of the Maoist leader "instead of lawfully arresting him" raises serious concerns about the State's commitment to democratic norms.
"CPI strongly condemns the cold-blooded killing of senior Maoist leader along with several Adivasis in Chhattisgarh. It is yet another instance of extrajudicial action carried out under the guise of counterinsurgency operations," Mr. Raja alleged.
"If the authorities had credible intelligence about the whereabouts of the leader, why was a legal arrest not pursued? Why was due process guaranteed by the Constitution so blatantly ignored," he said.
The CPI demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the incident and the entire Operation Kagar.
"The people of Chhattisgarh and India at large deserve to know the truth. A democratic society cannot allow the State to become the judge, jury, and executioner," he said and urged "all democratic and progressive forces to raise their voices against this injustice".
CPI-Maoist general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, the topmost leader and backbone of the Maoist movement, was among the 27 dreaded Maoists killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, Mr. Shah announced.
He also said this is for the first time in three decades of India's battle against Maoism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by the security forces.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Last rites of Maoist leader Bhaskar held in his native village in Adilabad district
The last rites of CPI (Maoist) Telangana State committee member Bhaskar alias Mailarapu Adellu, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on June 5, 2025, were held at his native Pochera village in Boath mandal of Adilabad district on Monday (June 9, 2025). According to sources, the body of the slain Maoist was brought to the village from Chhattisgarh in the wee hours of Monday. Scores of villagers, members of the Amara Veerula Bandhu Mithrula Sangham, civil rights groups, and various mass organisations took part in the funeral procession. Poignant scenes were witnessed at the funeral site as the grieving family members of the slain Maoist broke down during the last rites of the latter. Some of the members of the mass organisations displayed banners demanding immediate halt to Operation Kagar in Chhattisgarh and peace talks with Maoists.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Calcutta HC questions Bengal govt over monetary support to sacked non-teaching staff
The Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved its judgment on a petition challenging the West Bengal government's decision to provide monetary relief to Group C and D employees whose jobs were terminated by the Supreme Court in April this year. Before reserving its order, the single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha posed some pointed questions to the state government. Questioning the decision of giving monthly `25,000 and `20,000 monthly allowance to the sacked Group C and D staff, Justice Amrita Sinha said: '…How was the amount decided… Will they get money sitting at home? For how long will they be paid?' On being informed by Advocate General Kishore Dutta that the money is being disbursed from April 1, Justice Sinha asked why the State government was in such a hurry to give allowance. 'Right now, the money should not be disbursed. There are some protocols that are to be followed,' Justice Sinha added. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for petitioners — two waitlist candidates Prakash Mandal and Jhantu Kumar Bera — argued that monetary allowances cannot be given to the sacked Group C and D staffers as their recruitment was termed illegal by the Supreme Court. To this, Advocate General Dutta, representing the state government, questioned the locus standi of the petitioners and said they should approach the Supreme Court since they claim that the scheme in question violates the order of the apex court. 'We should see who have filed these petitions… those on the waiting list. This is not a Public Interest Litigation. Those on the waiting list cannot have any grievance on this matter. Plus, the state government has the authority to take such decisions. This power is given to the State by the Constitution. And the allowance that is being given purely on humanitarian grounds,' Dutta argued. Justice Sinha then remarked: 'The state will provide allowances month after month to run their families, but they will not work?.. It is clear that these individuals will sit at home and get money. Does the state have any scheme for those who are deprived or are sitting on the road, or are unemployed?' The Advocate General said the scheme was 'temporary in nature', and would come to an end once the apex court takes a final decision on the review petitions of the state government.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Detained in Ranchi while paying tribute to Birsa Munda, Adivasi activists allege ‘forced silence, erasure of sacred spaces'
All India Adivasi Mahasabha president Geetashree Oraon, the daughter of the late Congress leader Kartik Oraon, and other activists were detained by police on Monday while paying tribute to freedom fighter Birsa Munda in Ranchi on the occasion of Birsa Munda Shahadat Diwas. The detentions took place at the historic Bhagwan Birsa Munda Shahadat Sthal, located near the old Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi, where the tribal icon is believed to have died in British custody on June 9, 1900. According to Oraon, the police and administrative officials arrived at the site ahead of the scheduled visit of the Jharkhand Governor and asked them to vacate the area, citing security concerns. 'We were peacefully paying tribute to our icon with our traditional customs and in the presence of our Pahan, the tribal priest. But the ADM told us we don't have the right to pay homage to Birsa Munda here,' Oraon told The Indian Express. 'There were people from various parties sitting nearby like JMM, BJP, yet only we Adivasis were detained and taken to Namkum police station.' Oraon said the tribute ceremony was being conducted under Adivasi customs. 'We were not protesting. We were observing a sacred day, and we were doing so as per our faith,' she said. Adivasi groups have expressed outrage over the detentions, calling them disrespectful and symbolic of the state's growing insensitivity to tribal rights and identity, even under a government led by a tribal Chief Minister. This also comes amid growing discontent among tribal communities in Jharkhand, particularly in and around Ranchi. In recent days, Adivasi organisations have raised objections to the inauguration of the Siramtoli Flyover, which reportedly encroaches upon a Sarna religious site — sacred to tribal communities. The flyover's ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 5. 'We're witnessing a pattern — cultural disregard, forced silence, and erasure of sacred spaces,' Oraon said. 'Even in an Adivasi-ruled state, Adivasis are being pushed to the margins.' When contacted, ADM (Law and Order) Raj Shekhar Alok said the detentions were made to ensure smooth movement and security arrangements for the Governor's official visit, adding that no permission had been granted for any gathering at the site during that time. 'There was a scheduled programme at the Shahadat Sthal involving the Governor and the Chief Minister. The Adivasi group was asked to either finish their tribute before the VVIPs' arrival or wait until the programme concluded. However, they refused to cooperate, saying more of their people were yet to arrive. Since they did not vacate the space despite repeated requests, they were removed and taken to the police station,' he said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
