Latest news with #OperationKagaar
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Grandpa, come home': Granddaughter of top Maoist commander Devji makes appeal
Raipur: In the turbulent wake of the encounter killing of topmost Maoist commander Basavaraju, an emotional letter and video message from the granddaughter of senior Maoist commander Tipiri Tirupati alias Devji has surfaced, where she pleads with him to lay down arms and return to the family. Devji and his granddaughter, Itlu Suma Tipiri, who is in a Telangana college, have never met as he went underground long before she was born. A central committee member, Devji is considered a potential successor to Basavaraju but Suma is calling him back to the life he left behind. Devji, known to be a ruthless Maoist commander, led the 2007 attack on Geedam police station in Dantewada, which was the first of many brutal ambushes to follow. He heads Maoist 'military commission', in effect the head of PLGA, the same post that Basavaraju held before being made CPI(Maoist) general secretary in 2018. A day ago, Bastar IG P Sundarraj had issued a blunt warning to Maoist commanders: surrender or die. "We consistently get information about the locations of top Maoist leaders. They can be eliminated anytime by security forces. They have only one option now: surrender and join the mainstream or get killed by security forces," Sundarraj said. Suma appears to realise the fate that may befall her grandpa. "Dear grandfather, please come home. I send you my heartfelt greetings. I've always longed to meet you, but sadly never got the chance. Whenever I read about you in the media, I feel both pride and pain. I know you gave everything to the cause of an egalitarian society, but recent events have been deeply saddening," she says, adding: "You've seen and achieved so much, but now we ask you to come back. Your family waits at the door. Please don't forget us." Suma questions the state's ongoing anti-Maoist operations, particularly 'Operation Kagaar' -- a high-intensity crackdown launched in Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh. "Why aren't similar actions taken against infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh? It pains me to see people celebrating the killing of Maoists with sweets. These are also human lives," she argues, without mentioning Indian forces' continued battle against Pak-backed terrorism and the recent Op Sindoor. She reflects on the motivations that drew many, including her grandfather, to the Maoist insurgency, and ends her message with the plea: "You left to stand for the people. But now, your people — your family — are calling you home. Please come back. We are still waiting, with open arms and open hearts." The letter comes two days after TOI reported that Devji and Sonu were believed to be the most probable to become CPI(Maoist) general secretary after Basavaraju's death.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Letter penned for party's betterment, says Kavitha
Hyderabad / Mancherial: A day after her explosive interaction with the media, BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Friday said that she had written the letter for the betterment of the party. The BRS leader said that she was targeted in the party and her letter was leaked and hence she could not meet the party president K Chandrashekar Rao. Talking to the reporters in a chit chat during her visit to Mancherial, Kavitha reiterated that she had written the letter. She said that she was anguished over the developments in the party hence she wrote the letter for the betterment of the party. 'I have expressed what the common party worker wanted from the party to the supremo KCR. I had worked hard for the party from the beginning. I had experienced a lot of suffering for the last ten years and had been tolerating it all. Many things are happening in the party but I have always tried to develop the party. Despite all this, a few issues have pained me. They tried to have an alliance with the BJP which had sent me to jail. I felt discomfort when there was a proposal to merge the party into BJP when I was in jail,' said Kavitha. The BRS leader said that no party has survived after having an alliance with the BJP. Hence she said she suggested the party leadership not to have an alliance with the BJP. 'I had made my point in the form of a letter written to the party president. I even tried to meet the party president and wanted to inform him. Though I had a chance to meet my father, I could not meet him because of the letter getting leaked. I had written letters even in the past but this time it was leaked. The party should find out who had leaked the letter,' said Kavitha, adding there was no separate agenda for her. She said that she will not allow the BRS to be merged with the BJP. It may be mentioned here that the letter written by the BRS MLC Kavitha had sent tremors within the BRS and her comments made on Friday further added fuel to fire. Kavitha said that the BJP was carrying out its misdeeds in the name of Operation Kagaar. 'When the Maoist Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao died in the encounter, they were not even allowed to have final rites. The BJP does not have the culture even to handover the dead body to the family for the final rites. Despite the demand for stopping Operation Kagaar, the murders are continuing,' said Kavitha condemning the attitude of the BJP. The BRS leader said that the Congress has shown its anti-Dalit attitude by insulting the Dalit leaders. She recalled the comments of MP Vamshi that he was not invited for the Saraswati Pushkaralu. She recalled that the Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka was insulted in the Yadagirigutta Temple. The approach of the Congress and BJP are against the social fabric of the country, she alleged.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kerala student activist Rejaz Sydeek booked under UAPA
Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek, a student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, arrested from Nagpur last week has now been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the Nagpur Police. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Maharashtra has been granted further custody of Sydeek till 18th May. Special Inspector General of Police Sandeep Patil, who heads the Anti-Naxal Operations (ANO), informed that Sydeek has been booked under Sections 38 (member of a banned organisation) and 39 (supporting a banned organisation) of the UAPA. Sydeek, along with a female friend, was arrested on May 8 from a hotel in Nagpur. During the probe, police had found that Sydeek had posted against Operation Sindoor and Operation Kagaar (anti-Maoist operation) on social media platforms and raised anti-India slogans. According to officials, preliminary investigation suggests that Rejaz also has connections with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)—the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan. However, the forensic analysis of his phone call records is underway, and the claim can be confirmed only after the analysis is completed, said police. The Maharashtra police had also conducted a search at the Kochi residence of Sydeek, assisted by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Kerala police. Sydeek had earlier been booked under Sections 149 (preparing to wage war against the government of India), 192 (giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) among other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. His female friend, Isha Priya Kumari—a law student hailing from Patna—was detained for a day and then let go.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
As massive anti-Maoist ops enter 8th day, ‘100 IEDs recovered by forces'
Raipur: The massive anti-Naxalite operation in dense forests of Bijapur in Bastar division, entered its eighth day on Monday, with no major breakthrough in terms of Maoist casualties. But the operation involves over 24,000 state and central security forces recovering and defusing IEDs mined on hills of Karregutta by the Maoists. Sources revealed that nearly 100 such bombs have been recovered so far. On another front, the offensive has stirred political controversy as former Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), has criticized the operation and campaign in Chhattishgarh, claiming that innocent tribal civilians were being killed. He urged the Centre to immediately halt 'Operation Kagaar' and advocated for dialogue with Maoists instead of 'indiscriminate killings.' KCR announced that he would send an official letter to the Union govt, proposing peace talks and accusing authorities of 'destroying democracy' through brute force. He further alleged that while Maoist groups had sent proposals for peace talks, the govt had shown no willingness to engage. "Problems must be solved through negotiations, not through annihilation," KCR said, adding that his party would pass a resolution to demand a halt to the ongoing campaign. The largest anti-Maoist operation being carried out on the borders of Bijapur-Telangana involves security personnel from CRPF , DRG, STF, COBRA, and forces closing in on a major Naxal stronghold in the dense forests of Usoor, including the rugged terrains of Karregutta and Rajagutta. The operation, marked by intense gun battles, IED neutralizations, and precision air strikes from helicopters, has so far led to the killing of three women Maoists, with recovery of weapons. Though the identification of the three women cadres is yet to be done, sources said that forces were facing sniper fire from Maoists hiding in mountainous terrain, but have responded fiercely. Speaking to TOI, a senior police officer said, "Around 800 square kilometres area along Chhattisgarh -Telangana interstate border is the area of operation and more than 24,000 state and central forces were involved directly and indirectly. The objective is to clear the area from the hold of Maoists belonging to Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Telangana State Committee (TSC), PLGA Battalion No 1, Central committee and other Naxal formations who have been using this area as a safe hideout to execute their nefarious plan against the innocent native population." "It is the primary duty of the security forces to clear the area for any kind of threat to the native population," the officer said, adding that the operations would continue till the time the area is cleared of illegal and banned outfits of Maoists.
