Visakhapatnam: Having faced heavy casualties at Malkangiri on October 24, the CPI (Maoists) have called for a 24-hour bandh on November 3 in five states to protest what they termed a 'fake encounter' carried out by the security forces aimed at wiping out the movement.
The official spokesperson of the central regional bureau of the CPI-Maoists issued a press note urging the people of Chhattisgarh, Maharastra, AP, Odisha and Telangana to observe a bandh on November 3. However, essential services have been exempted from the bandh. The press note was dated October 24, the day the encounter, but was circulated to the media only on Saturday.
Maoist leader Pratap alleged that the encounter that took place in Bejjangi was nothing but a joint covert operation carried out by the Centre, AP and Odisha. He said in the press release that 27 Maoist members including three state-level leaders, district and area committee members as well as senior commanders were killed in the encounter. The deceased persons belonged to AP, Orissa, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, he said.
Pratap mentioned the names of some of the leaders who died in the encounter. However, there is an ambiguity over the names mentioned by the Maoist leader and those identified by the security forces.
Pratap mentioned special zonal committee leaders Chalapati, Daya, and Ganesh as well as district leaders Aruna, Rhino, Swaroopa, Munna, Mudri, Ashok, Murali, Mamata, Rajesh, Sudhir, Latha, Madhu, Swetha, Rajanna, Ramky, Mallesh, Mutha, and Birsu as the ones who died.
However, sources said Chalapati spoke to some reporters in Odisha over the phone on Saturday.
Many injured comrades may have been in the custody of the cops, Pratap said and alleged that names of around 11 injured persons were not announced by the cops.
The Naxal leader reiterated that the encounter carried out by the security forces was a covert operation. He said it had become a routine for the cops to carry out such operations with the help of surrendered Naxals.
"The government will definitely pay the price for the incident," Pratap warned. The Bejjangi or Janthri covert operation is part of the phase three of 'Operation Green Hunt', he alleged.
The Naxal leader also said repression against the people and covert operations against Naxals increased after Union home minister Rajnath Singh visited Visakhapatnam and Koraput in Odisha in May this year.
The Centre, as well as AP and Odisha governments are aiming to loot the natural resources in the eastern ghats to benefit corporate bigwigs and multinational companies, Pratap alleged. The governments have been introducing anti-people policies and trying to suppress the voices raised against them, he said. Covert operations or combing operations will not demoralise the Naxals from supporting the oppressed in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, sources said so far 17 out of 30 bodies have been received by the family members of slain Maoists.
The official spokesperson of the central regional bureau of the CPI-Maoists issued a press note urging the people of Chhattisgarh, Maharastra, AP, Odisha and Telangana to observe a bandh on November 3. However, essential services have been exempted from the bandh. The press note was dated October 24, the day the encounter, but was circulated to the media only on Saturday.
Maoist leader Pratap alleged that the encounter that took place in Bejjangi was nothing but a joint covert operation carried out by the Centre, AP and Odisha. He said in the press release that 27 Maoist members including three state-level leaders, district and area committee members as well as senior commanders were killed in the encounter. The deceased persons belonged to AP, Orissa, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, he said.
Pratap mentioned the names of some of the leaders who died in the encounter. However, there is an ambiguity over the names mentioned by the Maoist leader and those identified by the security forces.
Pratap mentioned special zonal committee leaders Chalapati, Daya, and Ganesh as well as district leaders Aruna, Rhino, Swaroopa, Munna, Mudri, Ashok, Murali, Mamata, Rajesh, Sudhir, Latha, Madhu, Swetha, Rajanna, Ramky, Mallesh, Mutha, and Birsu as the ones who died.
However, sources said Chalapati spoke to some reporters in Odisha over the phone on Saturday.
Many injured comrades may have been in the custody of the cops, Pratap said and alleged that names of around 11 injured persons were not announced by the cops.
The Naxal leader reiterated that the encounter carried out by the security forces was a covert operation. He said it had become a routine for the cops to carry out such operations with the help of surrendered Naxals.
"The government will definitely pay the price for the incident," Pratap warned. The Bejjangi or Janthri covert operation is part of the phase three of 'Operation Green Hunt', he alleged.
The Naxal leader also said repression against the people and covert operations against Naxals increased after Union home minister Rajnath Singh visited Visakhapatnam and Koraput in Odisha in May this year.
The Centre, as well as AP and Odisha governments are aiming to loot the natural resources in the eastern ghats to benefit corporate bigwigs and multinational companies, Pratap alleged. The governments have been introducing anti-people policies and trying to suppress the voices raised against them, he said. Covert operations or combing operations will not demoralise the Naxals from supporting the oppressed in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, sources said so far 17 out of 30 bodies have been received by the family members of slain Maoists.