In Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, which has been witnessing an intense crackdown by the Union government and security forces, an appeal by the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has compelled the government to agree to peace talks.
Since January 2025, hundreds of civilians have lost their lives as security forces in Chhattisgarh intensified their operations. According to data compiled by Article 14, between 2018 and 2022, more civilians (335) died than security personnel (168) and Maoists (327).
Maktoob was on the ground in Bastar, visiting different Adivasi-populated areas to understand how locals are trying to live amidst the violence.
“This time is worse than Salwa Judum,” Vallan, an Adivasi farmer in his 50s, told Maktoob.
In June 2005, a movement was launched to combat the Maoists in Dantewada district, where insurgency had increased. Known as ‘Salwa Judum,’ its prime mover was Mahendra Karma, a Congress MLA from Dantewada. With the support of then-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, various reports suggest Karma started Salwa Judum. However, there are different accounts of how the movement actually began.
The movement, however, left hundreds dead, with many villages displaced.
Many believe the current situation is no better.
On 6 October 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said his government was determined to end the Maoist insurgency within two years.
“Naxalism is a curse to humanity, and we are resolved to uproot it in all its forms,” said Shah, who, on 9 February 2025, revised that deadline to 31 March 2026.
Under the name “Operation Kagar,” led by the Union and Chhattisgarh governments, numerous encounters have taken place, killing not only Maoists but also several innocent tribals.
Possible peace talks
On the ground, there is a massive silence in the villages, while new CRPF camps have been set up. According to Additional Superintendent of Police, Bijapur, Chandrakant Gavarna, one of the most affected Maoist areas, six camps have opened in three months.
“The camps are opening up at some of the most vulnerable Maoist locations,” a local journalist in Bijapur said.
While encounters continue at a rapid pace, the CPI (Maoist) has proposed peace talks. On Wednesday, April 2, the Central Committee of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) extended this proposal to the government.
This is the first such peace proposal from the Maoists in several years. CPI (Maoist) Central Committee spokesperson Abhay stated that if the government halts its operations against them, they are willing to engage in unconditional peace talks.
This comes just ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Bastar on April 5.
In the statement, spokesperson Abhay said, “In the interest of the people, we are proposing peace talks with the Union and state governments. Our demand is that killings and massacres under the guise of operations in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra (Gadchiroli), Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana be stopped. The establishment of new armed force camps should also be halted.”
He further stated that if the government responds positively, the Maoists will immediately declare a ceasefire.
According to Abhay, in the past 15 months, more than 400 people—including many party leaders, activists, and members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA)—have been killed in different states, especially in Chhattisgarh. He added that “many innocent tribals have also been killed,” with nearly one-third of the deceased being ordinary tribals.
In response, Sharma told the media that the authenticity of the letter still needs to be verified.
“They are talking about a ceasefire. I don’t understand how the discussion will take place with such terminology. I want to say again that neither the Union nor state government wants to fire a single bullet, and that’s the reason why the rehabilitation policy has been brought again. So many (Naxal) people surrendered and are being rehabilitated with an attempt to make their lives stable,” he said.
The Maoists, he said, want the state to stop setting up police camps.
“They (Maoists) say if the state stops making police camps, we will pause the war. What is this war-like situation that you want to pause? There is no war situation… If you (Maoists) really want a discussion, we are ready… You can send an individual or a committee or (pick) any channel of your choice for a dialogue, and if a solution comes of it, Honourable Amit Shah ji and Vishnu Deo Sai ji will be very happy,” he said.
Maktoob met many locals who alleged that people in their village, who had no connection to the movement, were killed by security forces.
On March 29, 17 Maoists, including 11 women, were killed in a security force operation in Sukma district. According to police reports, more than 117 Maoists have been killed in encounters in Bastar since the beginning of this year.
Soni Sori, an activist and one of the most prominent tribal voices, told Maktoob that many of the victims are “women and children.”
“One should ask the police why they are attacking innocent Adivasi communities, especially women and children,” she said.
Appeal for peace
Looking at the situation, various civil society members have come forward and appealed to the government for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, political party Bhim Army took out a “Constitutional rally” in Jagdalpur, demanding that the BJP government take people’s rights seriously.
Adorned in blue ‘Jai Bhim’ scarves and carrying big flags on their bikes, the rally was also joined by many Adivasi activists.
Speaking to Maktoob after the rally, Dinesh Azad, a leader at Bhim Army, said the rally is an important reminder of how Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar made this Constitution.
“Our Constitution has given us fundamental rights, and I am here to tell people that. The rights to Jal (water), Jungle (forest), Zameen (land) have been given to us by the Constitution. We also remember the martyrdom of Birsa Munda, who was a great leader,” he said.
When asked about the fake encounters of the tribal community and the arrests of innocent Adivasis, Azad said, “We want to tell the authorities that the police are for the safety of the people. We have decided to tell people about their fundamental rights through the Constitution of India, and that is exactly what we will do,” he added.
He further said that MP and Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad has continuously raised these issues in Parliament and will continue to do so.
The rally was also attended by prominent tribal activist and human rights defender Hidme Markam, who has herself been arrested for advocating for the community and speaking against the atrocities that the Adivasi community is subjected to.
This is also the first time the Bhim Army has conducted such a rally in the Bastar region.
Speaking about the situation, she said that the condition is really volatile and authorities are killing innocent civilians by calling them Naxalites.
“Fake encounters have increased, and anyone who is speaking against such atrocities is being labeled as a Maoist,” she said.
The Indian civil society also issued a signed letter urging both the government and the Maoist party to prioritize the best interests of Adivasis and other villagers and to engage in peace talks, keeping in mind constitutional rights and human rights.
More than two hundred people’s organizations, activists, lawyers, academics, journalists, and concerned citizens from across the country have issued a public appeal calling for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue.
“We appeal to both sides to accept and announce a ceasefire to stop the use of violence in any form with immediate effect,” the statement said.
It further stated that more than 160 security camps have come up across Bastar, many of them on common or private lands, causing severe distress to Adivasi inhabitants.
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