New Delhi, Oct.2 The Maoists are showing no signs of relenting or backing off from their campaign to secure the release of their key leaders Kobad Ghandy and Chakradhar Mahato.

The Maoists have said that they intend to disrupt normal life in other states where they have a presence.

In a statement that they have issued recently, they indicated that they plan to organize another shutdown on October 3 in protest against anti-Naxal operations launched across the country.

The shutdown call has been given by the CPI-Maoist in protest against anti-Naxal operations in seven States, lack of treatment to Kobad Ghandy, a Politburo Member of the CPI-Maoist arrested recently in Delhi, and the arrest of Chhatradhar Mahato, leader of People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) spearheading the Lalgarh agitation in West Bengal.

The Maoists are making desperate attempts to demonstrate their writ by indulging in violence in remote areas.

This morning they killed 16 people, including five children, in Khagaria in Bihar. They not only kill those disobeying their diktat, but also destroy developmental infrastructure, thereby blocking the process of development.

In demonstrations in Kolkata, the Maoists held placards accusing Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee of being fascists.

Chhatradhar Mahato has been arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The shutdown plan once again exposes the nexus between the so-called progressive forces and leaders like Kobad Ghandy and hhatradhar Mahato on the one hand, and Naxals indulging in mindless violence. (ANI)