Five major Left parties have jointly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately halt what they termed “extra-judicial killings” in Chhattisgarh, allegedly being carried out under the guise of anti-Maoist operations.

In an open letter issued on Monday, June 9, the parties also called on the government to respond to the Maoists’ offer for talks and to ensure that those detained by security forces are treated in accordance with the rule of law.

The letter was signed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the All-India Forward Bloc (AIFB). The signatories criticised what they described as a "militaristic approach" toward Adivasi communities in the region, accusing the state of treating tribal populations with "unmitigated hostility."

Citing recent reports, the letter called on the Prime Minister to stop “Operation Kagar,” a security campaign that they allege has led to a spate of unlawful killings. The parties demanded that all Maoist detainees be produced before a court and handled in accordance with legal procedures.

Human rights groups have alleged that seven out of ten Maoists recently taken into custody were later killed after being subjected to torture. While an official from the state administration has denied these claims, the accusations have sparked outrage among civil society groups and opposition parties.

The letter also raised concerns over the broader implications of ongoing militarisation in Chhattisgarh. It alleged that the state’s rich forests and mineral resources are being opened up for indiscriminate corporate exploitation at the expense of the local tribal population.

The Left parties argued that the heavy deployment of security forces may be a smokescreen to facilitate this economic agenda.

Despite calls from various quarters, both the Union and Chhattisgarh governments have so far refused to engage with Maoist leaders on the prospect of peace talks. The letter criticised this stance, warning that celebrating the killing of insurgents runs counter to the rule of law and democratic principles.

“We reiterate the appeal” by various people and political parties to respond to the insurgents’ call and “urge upon you to stop the extra-judicial killings and violence with immediate effect and order an impartial judicial enquiry,” the letter said.

The appeal comes in the wake of the Union Home Ministry’s announcement last month that security forces had killed 197 “hardcore” Maoists as part of its intensified operations this year.

Read the full text of the letter below: 

To

Shri Narendra Modi ji
[Honourable] Prime Minister
Government of India

Dear Prime Minister,

We, on behalf of the five Left parties of the country, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M), Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), write to you to put an immediate halt to the extra-judicial killings in the region around Chhattisgarh in the name of Operation Kagar. There are reports that several senior Maoist leaders are currently in the custody of the security forces. We demand that they should all be produced in court and dealt with as per the rule of law.

The Adivasis in the region have long been complaining about the militarisation of the region which has completely disrupted normal life. The Adivasi rights enshrined in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution are being systematically violated and the forests and minerals of Chhattisgarh are being subjected to indiscriminate corporate exploitation with disastrous implications for environmental stability and livelihood of the local people. We urge upon you to stop this militaristic approach that treats the Adivasis with unmitigated hostility.

This hostility is being seen even after death, with the government refusing to hand over dead bodies to their families, denying them their right to give a dignified farewell to their family members.

The Maoists have repeatedly urged the government to consider their appeal for dialogue. Unfortunately, the union government and the BJP-led Chhattisgarh state government have chosen not to pursue a solution through talks. Instead, they are following an inhuman policy of killings and annihilation.

The statements made by the union Home minister, reiterating the deadline and the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister’s assertion that there is no need for talks, reflect a mindset unwilling to resolve issues through dialogue. The government should not be intransigent and celebrate the taking of human lives against the spirit of the law of the land and principles of democratic governance.

Many concerned citizens and political parties, in spite of having differing views, have already appealed to the government to respond to the Maoist declaration of unilateral ceasefire and initiate a dialogue to resolve all issues. We reiterate the appeal and urge upon you to stop the extra-judicial killings and violence with immediate effect and order an impartial judicial enquiry.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,

M.A. Baby, general secretary, CPI(M)
D. Raja, general secretary, CPI
Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary, CPI (ML) Liberation
Manoj Bhattacharya, general secretary, RSP
G. Devarajan, general secretary, AIFB.