Karthik Navayan
To,
Complaint Procedure Unit – Human Rights Council Branch
OHCHR – Palais Wilson United Nations Office at Geneva
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland, Email: cp@ohchr.org
@UN_HRC @IndiaUNNewYork @UN
Subject: Stop Extrajudicial Killings in Operation Kagar: Urge UN Investigation into Adivasi Deaths in India
1. The Indian government’s Operation Kagar, launched in January 2024 to combat Maoist insurgents in Chhattisgarh, has become a humanitarian tragedy.
2. Despite the Communist Party of India (Maoist) declaring a unilateral ceasefire and expressing willingness to disarm and join the democratic process, the government has intensified its military campaign, resulting in the deaths of approximately 150–200 Maoists and an estimated 100–150 Adivasi civilians, often mislabeled as combatants.
3. This operation violates fundamental rights under India’s Constitution (Article 21), international human rights law (Article 3, Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 6, ICCPR), and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
4. Reports from civil society groups like PUCL and CDRO document over 400 deaths since January 2024, with one-third being Adivasi civilians. Notable incidents include the killing of 29 people (including 12 women) in Maad on April 16, 2025, and 27–34 in Narayanpur on May 21, 2025, where senior Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao was killed.
5. The government’s aggressive approach, publicly endorsed by the Prime Minister and Home Minister, disregards the ceasefire and fuels resentment among tribal communities. The lack of transparency, unverified casualty classifications, and use of bounties (₹1–1.5 crore for Maoists) incentivise excessive force, endangering innocent Adivasis. This violates India’s Fifth Schedule, PESA, and Forest Rights Act, constituting systemic human rights abuses.
6. We, the undersigned, demand justice for the victims of Operation Kagar. The Indian government’s actions cannot be justified under the guise of national security when peaceful dialogue is possible. Domestic remedies are ineffective due to the state’s complicity, making UN intervention urgent.
7. We call on the UN Human Rights Council to:
A. Urge India to halt Operation Kagar and dialogue with the CPI (Maoist) to honour their ceasefire and democratic overtures.
B. Establish an independent UN fact-finding mission to investigate extrajudicial killings and civilian casualties.
C. Recommend accountability, including prosecution of perpetrators and compensation for victims’ families.
D. Request a country visit by the Special Rapporteurs on Extrajudicial Killings and Rights of Indigenous Peoples to assess the crisis in Chhattisgarh.
E. Demand transparency in casualty reporting and independent post-mortems to distinguish combatants from civilians.
8. Why This Matters:
Adivasi communities, already marginalised, are caught in a brutal conflict. The government’s refusal to negotiate despite a ceasefire deepens this tragedy, undermining peace and justice. Your signature can amplify the voices of the voiceless and push the UN to hold India accountable.
Join us in demanding an end to these human rights violations. Sign and share this petition to protect Adivasi lives and uphold international law!
9. Evidence:
A. PUCL, CDRO, and Virasam reports documenting 400+ deaths, including one-third Adivasis, since January 2024.
B. Media accounts of encounters, e.g., April 16, 2025 (29 killed in Maad), May 21, 2025 (27–34 killed in Narayanpur).
C. The state ignored CPI (Maoist) statements confirming a ceasefire and willingness to disarm.
D. Allegations of Adivasi misclassification as Maoists, supported by civil society, call for judicial inquiries.
Please sign the petition here.
Sincerely,
Dr. B. Karthik Navayan
Lawyer and Human Rights Activist
Hyderabad, Telangana
