CPI-Maoist calls shutdown to protest Kishenji killing

The central committee also called for a "protest week" from Tuesday.

Maoist sympathizer and revolutionary writer P. Varavara Rao read out the statement of the central committee before the funeral of Kishenji in his home town Peddapalli in Karimnagar district, about 200 km from here.

Paying rich tributes to Kishenji, the CPI-Maoist alleged that security forces killed him in cold blood.

Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji, who was number three in the party, was gunned down by security forces Thursday in West Bengal's West Midnapore district, about 10 km from the border with Jharkhand.

Admitting that Kishenji's death was a big blow, the party blamed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P.  Chidambaram and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the  killing.

The statement released in the name of central committee spokesman Abhay alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government while talking of peace  conspired with the central government to kill Kishenji.

The central committee urged that all shops, businesses, and rail and road services should be shut Dec 4-5.