The year 2024 has been one of the deadliest in Bastar. Security forces reported over 235 killings since December 2023. Villagers have contested many of these “encounter” killings, alleging staged executions. PUCL (Chhattisgarh) has released a fact sheet on the recent incidents in Bastar (2024).

Overview

Bastar has become one of the most heavily militarized regions in the world, with security camps now established every few kilometres across the territory. These camps serve as operational hubs for extensive military operations conducted under the pretext of combating Naxalite insurgency. The proliferation of such camps has fostered an environment of violence, surveillance, and intimidation, severely impacting the lives and freedoms of local residents.

The year 2024 has been one of the deadliest in Bastar since the Salwa Judum era of (2005–2011), marked by increased violence, human rights abuses, and militarization. Security forces reported over 235 killings since December 2023. Villagers have contested many of these “encounter” killings, alleging staged executions, with investigations revealing that numerous victims, including children, were unarmed civilians. Parallelly, in 2024, over 60 villagers were allegedly killed by Maoists on accusations of being police informers.

At the forefront of these controversial operations is the District Reserve Guard (DRG), accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings. The recruitment of DRG personnel, which includes surrendered Naxalites and local tribal youth, directly contravenes the Supreme Court’s2011 ruling prohibiting the use of affected youth in counter insurgency operations.

Adding to the crisis are reports of indiscriminate bombings in some rural civilian areas, which is a cause of concern in itself, besides intensifying fear and insecurity among local communities.

In a parallel development, after many attempts to suppress the peaceful and democratic youth movement Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM) through arrests of its leaders and members, the Chhattisgarh Government took a contentious step on 30 October 2024 to ban the organization. MBM, a group advocating for Indigenous rights, was declared an “unlawful” organization under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA). On 28 November 2024, Chhattisgarh Police further intensified its crackdown on dissent by issuing a directive criminalizing the dissemination of content supportive of Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM).

SELECTED CASE STUDIES

EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS

• 1 January 2024: A six-month-old infant, Mangli, was killed by a bullet from a security personnel in Mutvendi village while being fed by her mother, Maase Sodi. The bullet pierced the mother’s hand and fatally struck the infant. The infant’s mother and other villagers alleged that there was no crossfire at the time.

• 19 January 2024: Security forces killed two Adivasi teenage girls, Nagi Punem and Soni Madkam, along with a 40-year-old man, Kosa Karam, while they were enroute to a protest in Gorna village. Witnesses reported indiscriminate firing by security forces and assaults on villagers, including minors Jimme Uika (12) and Chottu Podiam (10).

• 27 January 2024: Farmer Podiya Mandavi from Pedka village died in police custody. His body bore knife marks consistent with torture, contradicting police claims of sudden illness.

• 25 February 2024: Security forces in Chhattisgarh claimed to have killed three alleged Naxal operatives—Anil Hidko, Rameshwar Negi, and Suresh Teta — during an anti-Naxalite operation. However, the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) and the victims’ families disputed this, alleging the encounter was fabricated. They asserted the men were villagers who had left that day to gather materials for the tendu leaf plucking season.

• 27 March 2024: Six individuals were killed by security forces in Chipurbatti and Pusbaka villages in what villagers described as a staged encounter. A photograph of one of the deceased showed him alive and bound before being executed. Villagers stated that only two of the deceased were Maoist party members, while the others were unarmed civilians.

• 2 April 2024: Thirteen individuals were killed during an operation, with two confirmed as Adivasi peasants. This included a deaf and mute girl, Kamli Kunjam, and the recovery of her torn clothing and injury marks on her body suggest sexual assault.

• 11 May 2024: Twelve civilians in Pidiya village were killed while they were engaged in routine activities, including seasonal tendu leaf collection.

• 8 November 2024: Hidma Podiam and Joga Kunjam (20) were allegedly killed by indiscriminate security force firing in Bijapur. Locals claimed they were unarmed civilians.

• 11 December 2024: Farmer Pandu Madvi was killed in cold blood while seeking refugeinahomeafterpoliceopenedfireindiscriminatelyinfields.Villagersreported he was unarmed.

• 11 December 2024 (Abujhmad): DRG forces killed five villagers, all from a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), in Kummamand Lekawada villages. Villagers alleged unprovoked firing on people working in fields. Four teenagers were injured in the incident: Ramli Oyam: Sustained a neck injury; a bullet fragment remains lodged inside, Sonu Oyam: Suffered a head injury., Chaitram Oyam: Injured in the buttocks; his father was among those killed and Raju Nandam: Injured in his hand and foot.

• 12 December 2024: Two villagers were killed in Gotum Para of Nendra village during a police operation. Local testimonies suggest the killings were unprovoked and targeted.

INDISCRIMINATE BOMBINGS

Between April 2021 and April 2024

Five bombing attacks were reported from Bijapur and Sukma districts on:

• 19 April 2021: Between Botalanka and Palagudda villages. At least 12 bombs dropped.

• 14–15 April2 022:Bottetong, Mettagudem, Duled, Sakler, and Pottemang villages.

• 11 January 2023: Mettaguda, Bottethong, Rasapalli, Sakiler, Kannemerka, and Errapalli. Nine bombs, followed by intense firing from two helicopters at Bottethong.

• 7 April 2023: Morkemetta hills -Jabbagatta, Meenagatta, Kavargatta, and Bhattiguda. Following the bombing, three helicopters discharged heavy machine gun fire. As per reports ‘there were some small craters as well as an object that resembled a rocket – that the villagers claimed to be an unexploded ‘bomb’ found the day after.’

• 7 April 2024: In villages of Palaguda, Ittaguda, Jilorgada, Gommaguda, and Kanchal, more than 30 high-intensity explosives were dropped, causing significant destruction. Residents narrowly escaped harm and reported sightings of drones in the area.

In October-November–December 2024

Continuous bombings in Bijapur district are being reported in Komadpalli, Tumirguda, Rekapalli, Battiguda, Tekamguda and Kondapalli of Bijapur District. Villagers allege that bombs are being indiscriminately dropped near residences and agricultural fields, causing extensive damage. They have also shared photographs of unexploded bombs that were dropped in the villages.

CRACKDOWN ON MOOLVASI BACHAO MANCH (MBM)

• 2021: MBM was formed during the Silger protests to oppose unauthorized security camps and advocate for Indigenous rights.

• 30 October 2024: The Chhattisgarh Government declared MBM an “unlawful” organization under the Chhattisgarh Special Public SecurityAct (CSPSA) through a notification.

• 18-19 November 2024: News regarding the ban became public knowledge for the first time, including for MBM members.

• 19 November 2024: Two MBM members were arrested under CSPSA for being part of MBM.

• 22 November 2024: MBM sent a letter to the government seeking justification for the ban and asking them to quash the notification.

• Procedural Violations: To our knowledge, no advisory board has been formed to review the ban, as required under the CSPSA.

• 28 November 2024: the Chhattisgarh Police Headquarters issued a directive prohibiting the dissemination of content supportive of Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Issued by :

PUCL (Chhattisgarh) – Junas Tirkey, President

Kaladas Dehariya, Gen.Secretary