The outlawed CPI (Maoist), in a purported statement, has announced a temporary suspension of its armed struggle to facilitate peace talks.

It has demanded that the government declare a one-month 'ceasefire' and halt security operations to initiate the process.

Reacting to the development, the Chhattisgarh government said it was verifying the authenticity of the statement, which surfaced on social media on Tuesday (September 16).

In the purported statement, the rebels have appealed to the government to share their decision on the issue via the Internet and government news media, including radio.

The two-page statement, dated August 15, was issued in the name of Abhay, a spokesperson of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee. The statement came nearly four months after the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region.

CPI (Maoist) demands ceasefire

"We were also ready to exchange views with the government on this subject, primarily through video call. Therefore, we made it clear once again that (the government should) immediately declare a formal ceasefire for a month, stop search operations and take forward the peace process," it said.

The statement also carried a note, saying it was issued late due to several reasons.

Reacting to the statement, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI that police have taken note of the press release issued in the name of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee regarding the laying down of arms and the prospect of peace talks.