NEW DELHI: A group of prominent Indians called on Monday for peace talks with Maoist rebels who control huge swathes of the countryside, and said the government must stop a controversial armed campaign against the rebels.

The Maoists, who are active in the states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, say they are fighting for the rights of peasants and landless labourers. More than 1,200 people have been killed in escalating violence since 2005. An independent group, “Citizen’s Initiative”, said that a government-backed anti-rebel movement, called the Salwa Judum, had failed to halt the Maoists.

“A cycle of retribution and revenge has been set in motion, with the Salwa Judum targeting villagers believed to be sympathetic to the Maoists and the Maoists in turn killing those deemed to be sympathetic to Salwa Judum,” the group said.

Human rights group say many people are being coerced into joining the Salwa Judum (Campaign for Peace) and have condemned the state government for putting civilians in the firing line.

“The leadership of this group has passed into the hands of criminal elements ... Instead of bringing in peace and security, Salwa Judum has increased insecurity all around,” the Citizen’s Initiative said in its report after a visit to the region.—Reuters