Delhi: In a significant development, Maoist insurgents in India have announced a unilateral suspension of their armed struggle and expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with the government. This decision follows a series of intensified government operations aimed at addressing the decades-long insurgency.
A spokesperson for the Communist Party of India (Maoist) stated that the evolving global and national circumstances, along with persistent appeals from the Prime Minister, Home Minister and senior police officials, influenced their decision to halt their armed activities. The spokesperson further conveyed the group’s willingness to initiate negotiations with the government.
The government’s response to this announcement has not been officially disclosed as of now.
The Maoist insurgency, also known as the Naxalite movement, began in 1967 in a village in the Himalayan foothills. Over the decades, it has resulted in the loss of more than 12,000 lives, including rebels, military personnel and civilians. The government’s current operations aim to eliminate the remaining remnants of this insurgency.
This development marks a potential turning point in India’s efforts to resolve one of its most prolonged internal conflicts.
