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Speaking at the ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’ session, Amit Shah ruled out the possibility of a formal ceasefire, insisting that those seeking peace must surrender immediately
Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (Photo: X)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday delivered a sharp message to Maoists following reports of a ceasefire offer by the outlawed CPI (Maoist), saying there will be no formal truce.
Speaking at the ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’ session in New Delhi, Shah ruled out the possibility of a formal ceasefire, insisting that those seeking peace must surrender immediately.
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“A letter was roaming saying that what has happened so far was a mistake and asking for a ceasefire because they want to surrender. There will be no ceasefire. If they want to surrender, there is no need for a ceasefire — lay down your weapons; the police will not fire a single shot,” Shah said.
The response came after a letter dated August 15 surfaced, allegedly issued by Maoist spokesperson Mallujola Venugopal alias Abhay.
The note declared a unilateral suspension of armed struggle and expressed a willingness to hold talks with the Centre, citing appeals made by the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and senior police officers.
State governments, however, remain cautious.
Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed that both the letter and an accompanying voice note had been verified as authentic.
He added that the rebels would first need to prove their sincerity by removing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted across the state.
The development comes at a time when security forces have dealt heavy blows to Maoist ranks.
In February, 31 Maoists were killed in a fierce encounter at Indravati National Park in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh.
In May, the organisation suffered its biggest setback in decades when its general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, was gunned down in Narayanpur along with over 25 fighters.
Operations have since continued across multiple states.
Just last week, a Rs 1 crore bounty-carrying leader, Sahdev Soren, was killed along with two others in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag. CRPF and Maharashtra Police commandos also dismantled long-standing Maoist networks in Gadchiroli.
Pothula Padmavathi, alias Sujatha — a senior Central Committee Member and wife of slain Maoist politburo leader Kishenji — surrendered in Telangana earlier this month after more than four decades underground.
She was wanted in over 70 cases and carried a reward of Rs 40 lakh.
The Maoist overture comes against the backdrop of the Shah’s earlier pledge to eliminate the insurgency by March 2026.
September 28, 2025, 18:58 IST
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