September 19, New Delhi: A group of 50 victims of Naxal violence from Bastar, Chhattisgarh, held a silent protest at Jantar Mantar. The demonstration began at Kartavya Path, and by noon, the group reached Jantar Mantar. Under the banner of the Bastar Shanti Samiti, many of the protestors are victims of Naxalite violence, some of whom have lost limbs in these brutal attacks. They have come to Delhi demanding justice and peace for the Bastar region.
Manguram Kawade, the coordinator of the Bastar Shanti Samiti leading the protest, said, “We have been suffering from Naxalite violence for decades. Many villages in our area have been affected by this violence, and due to Naxalism, the entire Bastar region is far from any development. Our demand is that the voice of Bastar be heard and that the people there be freed from this Naxal violence.”
Gudduram Lekam, from Kachilwar village in Bijapur district of Bastar, is part of the group and shared his story with the media. He said, “On March 11, 2024, I was returning home after picking chilies from the fields when I stepped on a landmine planted by Naxals in the forest. The bomb exploded, and I lost my leg in the incident. I don’t want anyone else to suffer the same fate, so it is crucial to eliminate Naxalism from our region. This is why we have come to protest here today.”
The participants, all victims of Naxal violence, carried banners and placards during the protest. These placards bore slogans like “I am Silent Bastar, but Today I Speak!” expressing their pain and determination.
According to the Bastar Shanti Samiti, these protestors plan to use various platforms in Delhi to raise awareness, so that people in metropolitan cities like Delhi and across other major states can understand their plight and hear their voices.