Democratic Front Against Operation Green Hunt condemns alleged extrajudicial killings in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*

The recent encounter in Indravati National Park, Bijapur district, in which 31 Maoists were killed, has brought the total Maoist casualties in Chhattisgarh this year to 81. Following this incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s objective of eliminating "Left-wing extremism" in India by March 2026. This was the second-largest reported Maoist casualty in a single security operation, following the deaths of 38 Maoists in Narayanpur’s Thulthuli on October 3, 2024.

Leaders of the Democratic Front Against Operation Green Hunt, including Dr. Parminder, Prof. A.K. Maleri, and Buta Singh Mehmoodpur, have criticized the killings, describing them as extrajudicial executions under the guise of encounters. They argue that armed conflicts such as the Maoist insurgency arise from longstanding social and economic inequalities.

The Democratic Front contends that such operations impact not only Maoist forces but also the local tribal population, who are often caught in the crossfire. They argue that these actions align with broader economic and political strategies that prioritize corporate development over indigenous rights. The organization claims that since January 2024, more than 350 extrajudicial killings have been carried out under ‘Operation Kagaar’ in the Bastar region.

According to the Democratic Front, security operations in tribal regions have led to increased militarization, with numerous security camps established across Bastar. They allege that such measures contribute to unlawful detentions, displacement, and human rights violations. The group also challenges the narrative that Maoist activities hinder infrastructure development, claiming that state policies and military strategies have played a role in limiting access to education and resources in these regions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated the government’s goal of eradicating Maoism by March 31, 2026. The Democratic Front argues that the approach primarily focuses on military action rather than political resolution. They claim that official narratives and media reports often emphasize counter-insurgency success while overlooking broader socio-economic grievances.

The organization has called for an end to alleged extrajudicial killings, drone strikes, and increased security presence in tribal areas. They also demand recognition of indigenous land rights and an end to what they see as the suppression of mass movements and dissenting voices. They advocate for nationwide democratic protests to highlight the impact of security operations on tribal communities and to push for policy changes.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

10,000 students deprived of classes as Ahmedabad school remains shut: MCC writes to Gujarat CM

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, urging him to immediately reopen the Seventh Day Adventist School in Maninagar, Ahmedabad, where classes have been suspended for nearly two weeks. The MCC claims that the suspension, following a violent incident, violates the constitutional right to education of thousands of children.

Gujarat minority rights group seeks suspension of Botad police officials for brutal assault on minor

By A Representative A human rights group, the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat, has written to the Director General of Police (DGP), Gandhinagar, demanding the immediate suspension and criminal action against police personnel of Botad police station for allegedly brutally assaulting a minor boy from the Muslim community.

On Teachers’ Day, remembering Mother Teresa as the teacher of compassion

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ It is Teachers’ Day once again! Significantly, the day also marks the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta (still lovingly called Mother Teresa). In 2012, the United Nations, as a fitting tribute to her, declared this day the International Day of Charity. A day pregnant with meaning—one that we must celebrate as meaningfully as possible.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Targeted eviction of Bengali-speaking Muslims across Assam districts alleged

By A Representative A delegation led by prominent academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey visited three districts in Assam—Goalpara, Dhubri, and Lakhimpur—between 2 and 4 September 2025 to meet families affected by recent demolitions and evictions. The delegation reported widespread displacement of Bengali-speaking Muslim communities, many of whom possess valid citizenship documents including Aadhaar, voter ID, ration cards, PAN cards, and NRC certification.

Gandhiji quoted as saying his anti-untouchability view has little space for inter-dining with "lower" castes

By A Representative A senior activist close to Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar has defended top Booker prize winning novelist Arundhati Roy’s controversial utterance on Gandhiji that “his doctrine of nonviolence was based on an acceptance of the most brutal social hierarchy the world has ever known, the caste system.” Surprised at the police seeking video footage and transcript of Roy’s Mahatma Ayyankali memorial lecture at the Kerala University on July 17, Nandini K Oza in a recent blog quotes from available sources to “prove” that Gandhiji indeed believed in “removal of untouchability within the caste system.”

'Govts must walk the talk on gender equality, right to health, human rights to deliver SDGs by 2030'

By A Representative With just 64 months left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global health and rights advocates have called upon governments to honour their commitments on gender equality and the human right to health. Speaking ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), experts warned that rising anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are threatening hard-won progress on SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality).

Is U.S. fast losing its financial and technological edge under Trump’s second tenure?

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The United States, along with its Western European allies, once promoted globalization as a democratic force that would deliver shared prosperity and balanced growth. That promise has unraveled. Globalization, instead of building an even world, has produced one defined by inequality, asymmetry of power, and new vulnerabilities. For decades, Washington successfully turned this system to its advantage. Today, however, under Trump’s second administration, America is attempting to exploit the weaknesses of others without acknowledging how exposed it has become itself.

What mainstream economists won’t tell you about Chinese modernisation

By Shiran Illanperuma China’s modernisation has been one of the most remarkable processes of the 21st century and one that has sparked endless academic debate. Meng Jie (孟捷), a distinguished professor from the School of Marxism at Fudan University in Shanghai, has spent the better part of his career unpacking this process to better understand what has taken place.

Counterview

Search This Blog