Delhi – Victims of decades-long Maoist violence in Bastar demand justice and freedom from terror

New Delhi. Over 50 victims of Maoist violence from Bastar region gathered at Delhi’s Constitution Club to share their tragic experiences and demand justice.

Under the banner of the Bastar Shanti Samiti, the victims urged the nation to pay attention to their plight and take action against Maoist terrorists who have terrorised Bastar for over four decades.

Bastar has long been a region plagued by Maoist violence, with thousands of innocent civilians losing their lives and many others left with permanent disabilities.

During the press conference, two specific stories highlighted the ongoing crisis. Guddu Ram Lekam, an 18-year-old tribal youth, lost a leg in an IED explosion planted by Maoists while returning from work in March 2024. Similarly, 22-year-old Madavi Nanda lost a leg in another IED explosion in Bijapur district.

Speaking on behalf of the Bastar Shanti Samiti, Jayaram Das revealed that over 8,000 villagers have been killed by Maoists in the last two and a half decades.

Thousands more have been left disabled due to landmines and other explosives planted by Maoist terrorists. The victims, primarily from the tribal communities, continue to live in fear, as Maoists hinder all forms of development in the region, including roads, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Maoists claim to fight for the rights of local tribal communities, but the committee refuted these claims, stating that the Maoists have only exploited and terrorised the people.

According to Mangau Ram Kawde, another committee member, Maoists have prevented any real development in Bastar, with the region still lacking basic infrastructure. Schools and hospitals have been targeted, and innocent villagers have been killed under the guise of Maoist ideology.

The victims also highlighted the role of “Urban Naxals”, individuals in cities who sympathise with Maoists and downplay their violence as “fake encounters”. They accused these groups of ignoring the real suffering of Bastar’s people.