NEW DELHI: In an attempt to show solidarity with protesting Kashmiris Maoists have called for a 24-hour bandh in six states on September 30.
In a statement the CPI (Maoist) said September 30 will be observed as a bandh in six states — Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa — and also in Gadchiroli, Gondia and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra and Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh in protest "against the killing of Kashmiri youth by forces since June 11".

The statement was issued by Abhay, spokesperson for the central committee, and Anand, central regional bureau spokesperson. The party said there would be a "closedown of all rail and road traffic, banks, government and private offices, industries, educational institutions and business establishments". "We are excluding essential services like hospitals and other services from this bandh call," the statement said.

The statement justified the stone-pelting in Kashmir and called it democratic. It has been a Maoist strategy to join forces with all manner of protests, particularly if they are directed against the state.

The party demanded "immediate end to massacres by forces in Kashmir, withdrawal of military and paramilitary forces, repeal of AFSPA, plebiscite for Kashmiris and release of all political prisoners".