As Bharat commemorates its 78th Independence Day, a shocking and tragic incident has emerged from the violence-ridden region of Bastar, Chhattisgarh. In a harrowing act of brutality, suspected Maoists have taken the life of a 16-year-old boy, Soyam Shankar, in Puverti village under Jagargunda police station limits in Sukma district.
According to the reports from Organiser, the incident occurred on the evening of August 13, when Shankar, a student at a government school in Palnaar, Dantewada district, was lynched to death by suspected Maoists. The young boy had returned to his village just a week earlier, following the death of a female family member. When his body was discovered on the outskirts of the village, he was still in his school uniform, a heartbreaking reminder of the innocence lost in this act of violence.
This tragedy is compounded by the fact that Shankar’s elder brother, Sitaram (19), was also killed by the Maoists just a week prior in the same locality. The back-to-back killings have left the family devastated and terrified, forcing them to flee their home in Puverti, a village that was once a stronghold of the Maoist insurgency, to an unknown location for their safety.
Local police have confirmed the incident and have launched an investigation. Although no pamphlet or handwritten note was found at the scene, it is widely believed that the Maoists targeted the tribal brothers on suspicion of espionage, a common pretext for such brutal acts by the outlawed group.
The Maoist insurgency, which claims to protect the rights and resources of tribal communities—often referred to as “Jal, Jungle, Jameen” (Water, Forest, Land)—has instead wreaked havoc on the lives of these very people. The group’s ideology, rooted in far-left extremism, has led to the deaths of countless innocent civilians, including young lives like Shankar and Sitaram, and has displaced thousands from their homes in the conflict-ridden Bastar region.
This latest incident is a grim reminder of the ongoing violence in Bastar, a region that has long suffered under the shadow of Maoist extremism. As the nation looks to the future with hopes of development and progress, the plight of those living in these remote, violence-stricken areas must not be forgotten.
Past instances of Maoists’ attacks
In 2016, the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh witnessed an unprecedented gathering of around one lakh people rallying against the longstanding Maoist violence that has plagued the area for over three decades. Organized under the banner of the Action Group for National Integrity (AGNI), this massive protest reflected the growing frustration among the local population, particularly the tribals, who have suffered the devastating consequences of the insurgency, including the severe hindrance to development. AGNI’s national convener, Anand Mohan Mishra, emphasized that the rally marked a unified and resolute demand from the people of Bastar for an end to the violence and a future defined by peace and development.
The recent significant victory against Maoist terrorism, resulting in the elimination of 29 Maoists, including two Divisional Commanders, in the Abujhmad area of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, is a testament to the sustained efforts under the Modi Government’s zero-tolerance policy towards such insurgencies. This success, marks one of the most critical achievements in the ongoing fight against Maoist terror. It underscores the effectiveness of the government’s relentless approach, which has been systematically weakening the Maoist stronghold in the region, particularly in the most inaccessible parts of the Bastar forest, where the insurgents have long operated with impunity.
Meanwhile, the tragic killing of an innocent child by extreme leftist Naxalites in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, underscores the urgent need to address the ongoing threat posed by these insurgents. The repeated targeting of children by Naxalites is not only a grave human rights violation but also a reflection of a vile ideology that glorifies the exploitation of members of society. Such a despicable belief system has no place in a civilized world. It is imperative for the nation to take decisive action to eliminate the Naxalite menace and ensure the safety of all citizens, especially the children in these conflict-ridden areas. National efforts must also focus on protecting and empowering these communities, ensuring that no more innocent lives are lost to this senseless violence.
