India: Maoist rebels call off ceasefire in West Bengal
Putting the onus of peace talks on the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the Maoists in a letter to the interlocutors, publicised on Monday, called off the mutual cease-fire agreed earlier.
“The one-month cease fire agreement we entered with you has expired Oct 30. Since then, there has been no communication on the issue either from the government or you. In wake of this, we declare the end of cease-fire,” read the letter dated Oct 31 and signed by Communist Party of India-Maoist state secretary Akash.
The one-month truce agreement was signed Sep 30 between the Maoists and the interlocutors led by rights activist Sujato Bhadro. A team of interlocutors was appointed earlier by Banerjee to broker peace with the guerrillas.