New Delhi: Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced on Saturday that the government is open to considering the CPI(Maoist)’s offer to lay down arms and initiate peace negotiations. However, he emphasized that the group must first halt civilian killings and remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted in their influence areas.
“The letter from CPI(Maoist) spokesperson Abhay was dated August 15 but was issued over a month later. Since that date, there have been multiple killings, including two temporary teachers in Bijapur on August 27 and in Sukma on August 29. On September 2, two more civilians were killed by Maoists in Sukma,” Sharma stated.
He argued that the CPI(Maoist)’s request to suspend armed resistance while simultaneously conducting civilian attacks and IED ambushes cannot coexist. “The leadership must instruct its cadres to cease civilian killings and deactivate the IEDs they have placed,” Sharma asserted in an interview with the Times of India.
Inspector General of Bastar Range, P. Sunderraj, indicated that it would take Maoists merely a week to dismantle IEDs in their core areas if ordered by their top leadership. Sharma further remarked that the final decision on the CPI(Maoist) peace proposal would rest with higher political authorities, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, after thorough consultation with all stakeholders.
“We are willing to welcome the Maoists with open arms if they choose to step forward, including beginning with a video call, and lay down their arms. We will ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” Sharma added.
Currently, he noted, there is no directive for counter-Naxal forces to reduce their operations. Intelligence reports suggest that a clandestine meeting took place in August among senior CPI(Maoist) leaders, including Abhay and Thippiri Tirupathi, also known as Devji, who succeeded Basavaraju following his elimination in May. The discussions reportedly focused on the ongoing crackdown by security forces in their traditional strongholds.
A senior intelligence officer commented on the situation, saying, “We are still evaluating whether Devji aligns with Abhay on the issue of laying down arms.”
