CPI (Maoist) Calls for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Bandh on June 20 to Protest Operation Kagar

The CPI (Maoist) Telangana committee has called for a bandh in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on June 20 to protest against Operation Kagar, which they claim has resulted in the brutal killing of Maoist leaders and others in Chhattisgarh. The bandh is intended to condemn the Centre's alleged "massive repression" and call for an end to the operation.

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) Telangana State Committee has called for a bandh in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on June 20, 2025, to protest against Operation Kagar. The operation, initiated by the Centre, has reportedly led to the deaths of several Maoist leaders and cadres in Chhattisgarh. The bandh is intended to condemn what the Maoists describe as "massive repression" and call for an end to the operation.

The bandh call was announced by the CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Jagan, who alleged that the BJP-led central government has killed as many as 550 Maoists since January 2024 as part of Operation Kagar [2]. Jagan criticized the operation, claiming that it has resulted in the deaths of senior Maoist leaders, including TLNS Chalam alias Gautham and Mailarapu Adellu alias Bhaskar, in encounters in Chhattisgarh [3]. He also alleged that security forces have been involved in extrajudicial killings and torture of Maoist members [3].

The bandh has been called to raise awareness about the alleged human rights violations by security forces and to demand an immediate halt to Operation Kagar [3]. The Maoists have urged people to support the bandh and raise their voices against the alleged human rights violations.

Following the bandh call, intelligence and police departments in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are on high alert, especially in border districts, to prevent any violent incidents or disruptions [3]. Security forces have been put on a high alert along the borders of Telangana-Chhattisgarh following the bandh call [4].

The bandh is part of a broader campaign by Maoists and Left parties against Operation Kagar. Five Left parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put an immediate halt to the alleged "extra-judicial" killings and to initiate a dialogue to resolve all issues [5].

The Maoists have repeatedly urged the government to consider their appeal for dialogue and have declared May 21 as a "dark day" in the history of the Indian revolutionary movement [4]. They have also accused the government of refusing to hand over the bodies of the deceased Maoists to their families and preventing them from having a proper farewell [5].

The bandh and the broader campaign against Operation Kagar highlight the ongoing tensions between the Maoists and the government, as well as the broader political and social issues at play in the region. The bandh is expected to have significant economic and social impacts on Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with potential disruptions to daily life and business operations.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/cpi-maoist-condemns-operation-kagar-calls-for-bandh-in-tg-ap-on-june-20/article69698677.ece
[2] https://telanganatoday.com/maoists-call-for-telangana-andhra-pradesh-bandh-on-june-20-opposing-operation-kagar
[3] https://munsifdaily.com/maoist-calls-for-andhra-and-telangana-bandh/
[4] https://www.uniindia.com/news/south/maoist-bharat-bandh-high-alert-on-telangana-chhattisgarh-border/3486196.html
[5] https://www.opindia.com/2025/06/operation-kagar-maoists-left-parties-and-an-appeal-to-pm-modi/