Jagan, spokesperson for the CPI (Maoist) Telangana State Committee, announced the ceasefire, citing public demand to halt Operation Kagar.
Published May 09, 2025 | 1:07 PM ⚊ Updated May 09, 2025 | 1:07 PM
Regardless of which party holds power in the states, the central government has taken the lead in suppressing the Maoist movement. (Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: The Congress party in Telangana has promised internal discussions on the issue, while the CPI has demanded an immediate end to Operation Kagar, organising statewide meetings with other Left parties. At its silver jubilee celebrations, the BRS also called for talks to end the violence.
The CPI (Maoist) Telangana State Committee has declared a six-month ceasefire, effective immediately, while renewing its appeal for peace talks with the government.
The decision follows intense pressure. Operation Kagar — a coordinated anti-Maoist offensive launched by security forces in the Karreguttalu hillocks — has put the Maoists on the run. Karreguttalu is considered a Maoist stronghold in Chhattisgarh near the Telangana border.
In a press release dated 5 May 2025, signed by Jagan, spokesperson for the CPI (Maoist) Telangana State Committee, the party announced the ceasefire, citing public demand to halt Operation Kagar.
Jagan noted that the recent casualties prompted the group to seek de-escalation to avoid further losses. The statement referred to the growing calls from democratic groups, people’s organisations, and political parties for dialogue over violence.
The spokesperson referred to statements by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who expressed openness to dialogue, and BRS leaders K Chandrasekhar Rao and K Kavitha, who also echoed similar sentiments.
The Congress party in Telangana has promised internal discussions on the issue, while the CPI has demanded an immediate end to Operation Kagar, organising statewide meetings with other Left parties. At its silver jubilee celebrations, the BRS also called for talks to end the violence.
Jagan emphasised that dialogue is a democratic tool to resolve conflicts and foster peace. He noted that intellectuals and hundreds of organisations have joined the chorus for negotiations. To create a conducive atmosphere, the Maoists have committed themselves to the ceasefire, urging the government to reciprocate by initiating talks through a peace committee, formed to facilitate dialogue.
The announcement is seen as an indication of the Maoists’ strategic pivot, following military setbacks and bolstered by political and public support, towards a non-violent resolution.
Initiated in 2023, Operation Kagar has been aiming at dismantling Maoist networks in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh and Telangana. The operation targeted key Maoist hideouts, leveraging intelligence-led raids and joint efforts by the CRPF, CoBRA units, and state police.
The rugged terrain of Karreguttalu, coupled with the Maoists’ guerrilla tactics, made the operation challenging for the security forces. For years, Maoist cadres evaded capture by exploiting local tribal support, intricate knowledge of the forests, and a network of informants. Their ability to disappear into civilian populations and shift bases frequently had frustrated security forces’ efforts.
But Operation Kagar proved to be different from the earlier methods used to hunt down Maoists. Enhanced surveillance, drone reconnaissance, and real-time intelligence reportedly disrupted Maoist supply lines and safe havens.
In a major blow, a recent encounter in Karreguttalu resulted in the elimination of 26 Maoist cadres, one of the deadliest setbacks for the CPI (Maoist) in recent years. The operation also led to the seizure of arms caches and the destruction of training camps, weakening the group’s operational capacity.
Maoists have been evading arrests through mobility and stealth. However, intensified operations narrowed down their maneuverable space, forcing them into desperate measures. A day after the Karreguttalu encounter, Maoists retaliated by detonating a landmine in Mulugu, Telangana, near the Chhattisgarh border, killing three policemen. This attack was seen as a response to the heavy losses suffered by the group a couple of days ago.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
