Red terror over: Republic Day in 41 Chattisgarh's Bastar villages for first time

RAIPUR: From the once-impenetrable Karegutta hills of Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district to the deepest forests of Bastar, Tricolour was unfurled for the first time this Republic Day at 41 villages that had long been under Maoist control. The event assumed greater significance as 11 security personnel suffered IED blast injuries during an operation in the area Sunday.The flag was unfurled by 196th battalion of CRPF and 204th battalion of CoBRA at a new forward operating base in Tadapala camp, perched nearly 5,000-fthigh, deep in the Maoists’ former core zone.Bastar range IG P Sundarraj said 13 villages in the region unfurled the flag for the first time on I-Day in 2025. With addition of 41 villages this Republic Day, the total number of such villages has risen to 54 across Bastar.The villages that celebrated R-Day for the first time are spread across three districts — 13 in Bijapur, 18 in Narayanpur and 10 in Sukma — all of which were considered inaccessible for routine administration and national celebrations.“R-Day celebration in these villages is not just symbolic. It represents victory of the Constitution, democracy, rule of law, and the resolve of the people of Bastar to move forward on the path of peace and development,” IG Sundarraj said.