CPI (Maoist) offers ‘unconditional’ ceasefire: Has Centre’s fight against Naxals reached inflection point?

This year over 240 Maoists have reportedly been neutralised in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh

After decades of insurgency and mounting losses under sustained security operations, the banned CPI (Maoist) is seeking peace, or so it appears. A recently surfaced press note, dated a month ago, announced a unilateral “temporary suspension of armed struggle” and expressed willingness to hold talks with the Centre.

The letter was issued by Maoist spokesperson Mallujola Venugopal alias Abhay, raising hopes of advancing the Centre’s mission to end Naxalism by March 2026, a target announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah last year.

“We have decided to unconditionally lay down arms,” the letter dated August 15 mentioned, adding that the move was in response to “appeals made by the prime minister, home minister, and senior police officers.”

“We have decided to declare a temporary ceasefire, but we will continue to raise issues of public importance and engage with political parties and organisations,” it said.

The press note reportedly included Abhay’s latest photograph. Sources told CNN-News18 that the move was meant to build authenticity and gain the confidence of the government in case video calls are used to hold discussions.

Why the timing matters

The note surfaces at a time when security forces have achieved major gains against Maoism in recent months, echoing the Home Minister’s pledge. This year has witnessed some of the most significant setbacks for Maoists in decades.

At least 31 Maoists were gunned down in February during an encounter with security forces at Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.

Maoists then suffered their biggest blow in May when their top leader Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), was gunned down in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, along with over 25 Maoists.

Three Maoists, including one carrying a Rs 1 crore bounty on his head, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district as recent as Monday.

The encounter broke out in the Pantitri forest under the Gorhar police station limits around 6 am between the squad of Sahdev Soren of the banned CPI (Maoist) and security forces, a senior officer said.

"The bodies of Sahadev Soren, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, and two other Maoists have been recovered during the search operation," he told PTI.

CRPF and Maharashtra Police Commandos in Gadchiroli have neutralised key PLGA guerrillas, effectively breaking one of the Maoists’ most enduring strongholds.

Less than a week ago, Pothula Padmavathi, 62, also known as Sujatha -- a Central Committee Member (CCM) of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the wife of slain politburo member Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji -- surrendered to Telangana police after being underground for more than four decades.

Sujatha, a senior CCM and in charge of the South Sub-Zonal Bureau of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, had a Rs 40 lakh bounty announced by Chhattisgarh Police. She was wanted in over 72 cases registered in various districts of Bastar.

Government’s response to CPI (Maoist) 'temporary' ceasefire

Both the central as well as state governments have been rather cautious in response to the latest development.

“We have taken note of a press release issued in the name of the CPI (Maoist) central committee regarding the laying down of arms and the prospect of peace talks. The authenticity of this release is being verified, and its contents are under careful examination. It is reiterated that any decision on engagement or dialogue with the CPI (Maoist) lies solely with the government, which will take an appropriate call after due consideration and assessment of the situation and circumstances," IG Bastar P Sundarraj told News18.

A senior officer in the intelligence wing told the publication that the naxals are under pressure.

“Earlier this year, too, conditional surrender was mentioned by central committee members, but this is the first time that unconditional giving up of arms has been mentioned. Also, the reference to the PM and HM’s appeal is new,” the officer said.

This marks at least the third such offer by the CPI (M) this year, with similar overtures made in April and May, according to Firstpost. The April statement had also come in the name of Abhay, and following the killing of CPI (M) chief Basavaraju in May, reports suggested that Abhay too might surrender in the coming months.

Anti-Naxal operations by security forces

This year over 240 Maoists have reportedly been neutralised in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh. According to official data accessed by The New Indian Express in June, security forces neutralised 435 Maoists between 2024 and June 20, 2025. 1,457 operatives surrendered and 1,469 were apprehended during the same period.

According to official data by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in April this year, the number of left wing extremism (LWE) affected districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018, 70 in July 2021 and further to 38 in April-2024.

What does the recent latest letter say?

In a statement dated August 15, CPI (M) leader Abhay said that Maoists have decided to shun arms in the wake of changed national and global circumstances.

“To take forward the process of peace talks that was started on the initiative of the party’s general secretary (the late Basavaraju), we are making it clear that in view of the changed global and national circumstances, as well as the continuous requests being made by the country’s Prime Minister, Home Minister and senior police officers to give up arms and join the mainstream, we have decided to shun arms,” the statement read, as per PTI.

"We have decided to declare a temporary halt to the armed struggle. We are making it clear that in the future, we will fight shoulder to shoulder with all political parties and organisations fighting for the public cause as far as possible," the statement added.

The CPI (Maoist) offered direct talks with the Centre, a request that the MHA is yet to comment on.