Rights groups allege custodial killings after seven Maoist leaders killed in C'garh 'encounter'
Bijapur: Seven senior Maoist leaders were killed over three days in what the police claim were encounters with security forces in the Indravati National Park between June 5 and 7. However, civil rights groups have alleged that the deaths were the result of custodial torture and fake encounters following the illegal detention of 10 Maoists from Parshagarh village.
According to the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) of Telangana, the police picked up 10 Maoists from the national park and killed seven of them after subjecting them to brutal torture. The CLC alleged that one Maoist was killed on June 5, four on June 6, and two on June 7. The remaining three are reportedly still in police custody.
Police have so far confirmed the deaths of only two individuals: Tentu Laxmi Narasimha Chalam alias Sudhakar, a CPI (Maoist) central committee member, and Mylarapu Adelu alias Bhaskar, a Telangana state committee member. Rights groups have named the others allegedly killed, including Telangana committee member Bandi Prakash and Dandakaranya zonal committee member Papa Rao.
The police version differs significantly. Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar claimed the operation was based on specific intelligence about Maoist leaders gathered in the forest. He stated that Sudhakar was killed in an exchange of fire on June 5 and that an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the scene. Additional fatalities reportedly occurred on June 6 and 7. The SP denied the allegations made by rights organisations, calling them "false propaganda."
Civil rights activists raised questions about the absence of other bodies near Sudhakar’s, despite him being a top leader usually accompanied by armed guards. They also pointed out he was found in civilian clothes, not the usual military fatigues. They urged the National Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged extrajudicial killings.
The Coordination Committee for Peace, which includes noted mediator G. Haragopal, described the incident as a “constitutional crisis” and called for urgent court intervention to prevent further erosion of democratic values. Haragopal had previously mediated with Maoists in high-profile hostage situations.
Bhaskar, who was also killed, was a registered medical practitioner before joining the Maoist movement in 1995. Both he and Sudhakar had long underground histories in the party.
The Committee for Release of Political Prisoners and the Indian Association of People’s Lawyers have demanded a second post-mortem of the bodies, alleging that the two were killed in cold blood.
The Civil Liberties Committee claims that over 550 Maoists have been killed since January 2024 as part of the Union government’s ‘Operation Kagar’, which they argue is being used to suppress tribal resistance and hand over mineral-rich lands to corporations.
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Air India Express introduces late-night Bengaluru–Mangaluru service
International services at M’luru cancelled on March 7
Mangaluru: Air India Express will introduce a late-night daily flight service on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru–Bengaluru sector starting March 10, 2026.
According to the sources, flight IX 5971 will depart from Bengaluru at 9.25 pm and arrive in Mangaluru at 10.40 pm. The return flight, IX 5972, will depart from Mangaluru at 11.10 pm and reach Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, at 12.20 am.
The additional service will operate daily and will remain in effect until March 28, 2026.
Meanwhile, Air India Express has cancelled all its scheduled international flights from Mangaluru International Airport (IXE) on March 7 due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The Bengaluru–Mangaluru sector already has multiple daily services. Apart from Air India Express, IndiGo also operates flights on this route.
