Will halt violence if Green Hunt stopped: Maoist leader Kishenji

KOLKATA - Top Maoist leader Kishenji Monday offered to halt violence by the leftwing rebels if the government stopped the massive security operations against them.

Kishenji told the media that Maoists would halt the violence unleashed against security forces and government officials as long as the government kept in abeyance the anti-Maoist security operations, named Operation Green Hunt.

Kishenji, whose real name is Koteshwar Rao, also said it was up to the government to initiate a dialogue process with the rebels.

The Maoists have unleashed deadly attacks against security forces, especially in West Bengal where the government has launched a security drive against them in the eastern districts. On Feb 15, the Maoists killed 24 paramilitary troopers in an audacious attack on the Silda security camp.