Timeline to eradicate Maoists 'linked to' mineral resources extraction plan in Bastar: APRD

By A Representative

The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has issued a press statement raising concerns over alleged human rights violations in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, under the ongoing security operations labeled as "Operation Kagaar." The organization claims that since the new state government assumed office under Chief Minister Bishnu Deo Sai on December 13, 2023, there has been a significant increase in violence, resulting in the deaths of over 300 individuals.

The APDR alleges that a large portion of those killed are civilians misidentified as Maoists in encounter operations conducted by paramilitary forces such as the CRPF, CoBRA, and District Reserve Guards. The group has called for transparency, stating that the identities of those killed have not been verified and has demanded a halt to such operations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly set a deadline of March 2026 for the complete eradication of Maoists. The APDR suggests that this timeline might be linked to resource extraction plans in Bastar, which is rich in mineral reserves. The statement accuses the government of prioritizing corporate interests over human rights, citing the establishment of nearly 200 paramilitary camps in the region.

The APDR argues that left-wing extremism is a socio-economic issue rooted in structural inequality and advocates for dialogue with Maoist groups as a solution. The organization has put forward the following demands:

1. Immediate cessation of "Operation Kagaar" and similar operations.

2. An end to the policy of targeting armed opposition groups through military action.

3. Withdrawal of the policy of elimination and initiation of dialogue with Maoists.

4. Halt to the establishment of new paramilitary camps and the disbanding of existing ones.

5. Repeal of bans on organizations like the "Moolwasi Bachao Manch.

6. Release of individuals detained under allegations of Maoist links.

7. Adherence to the Fifth Schedule for any projects in Adivasi regions, including obtaining consent from local Gram Sabhas.

8. Stopping the use of drone bombings and mortar attacks in Adivasi areas.

The APDR emphasizes that addressing the root causes of the conflict through socio-economic measures is crucial to resolving the ongoing unrest. The organization has urged the government to reconsider its approach and prioritize democratic and human rights principles.

Comments

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

Was Netaji forced to alter face, die in obscurity in USSR in 1975? Was he so meek?

By Rajiv Shah This should sound almost hilarious. Not only did Subhas Chandra Bose not die in a plane crash in Taipei, nor was he the mysterious Gumnami Baba who reportedly passed away on 16 September 1985 in Ayodhya, but we are now told that he actually died in 1975—date unknown—“in oblivion” somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Which city? Moscow? No one seems to know.

Love letters in a lifelong war: Babusha Kohli’s resistance in verse

By Ravi Ranjan* “War does not determine who is right—only who is left.” Bertrand Russell’s words echo hauntingly in our times, and few contemporary Hindi poets embody this truth as profoundly as Babusha Kohli. Emerging from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Kohli has carved a unique space in literature by weaving together tenderness, protest, and philosophy across poetry, prose, and cinema. Her work is not merely artistic expression—it is resistance, refuge, and a call for peace.

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress.

Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps

By A Representative A commentary published by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has drawn attention to the challenges governments face in responding effectively to global public-health risks. In an article written by Laurie Kazan-Allen and published on March 5, 2026, the author examines how the discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play products has raised questions about regulatory oversight and international product safety. The article opens by reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that governments in several countries were slow to respond to early warning signs of the crisis. Referring to the experience of the United Kingdom, the author writes that delays in implementing protective measures contributed to “232,112 recorded deaths and over a million people suffering from long Covid.” The commentary uses this example to illustrate what it describes as the dangers of underestimating emerging threats. Attention then turns...

Aligning too closely with U.S., allies, India’s silence on IRIS Dena raises troubling questions

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The reported sinking of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka raises troubling questions about international norms and the credibility of the so-called rule-based order. If indeed the vessel was attacked by the American Navy while returning from a joint exercise in Visakhapatnam, it would represent a serious breach of trust and a violation of the principles that govern such cooperative engagements. Warships participating in these exercises are generally not armed for combat; they are meant to symbolize solidarity and friendship. The incident, therefore, is not only shocking but also deeply ironic.

The kitchen as prison: A feminist elegy for domestic slavery

By Garima Srivastava* Kumar Ambuj stands as one of the most incisive voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. His work, stripped of ornamentation, speaks directly to the lived realities of India’s marginalized—women, the rural poor, and those crushed under invisible forms of violence. His celebrated poem “Women Who Cook” (Khānā Banātī Striyāṃ) is not merely about food preparation; it is a searing indictment of patriarchal domestic structures that reduce women’s existence to endless, unpaid labour.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

India’s foreign policy at crossroads: Cost of silence in the face of aggression

By Venkatesh Narayanan, Sandeep Pandey The widely anticipated yet unprovoked attack on Iran on March 1 by the United States and Israel has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters around the world. Reports indicate that the strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, including 165 elementary school girls, 20 female volleyball players, and many other civilians.

Search This Blog