The 30 erstwhile Maoist-dominated villages in Baster celebrated Republic Day as they unfurled tricolour for the first time. Notably, these villages were dominated by Hima’s PLGA Battalion 1. Villagers saw the unfurling of the national flag for the first time in 2 decades as Maoist insurgency erupted nearly 20 years ago.
“It’s for the first time that Republic Day will be celebrated in these villages. There are 14 newly established security camps here – five each in Bijapur and Sukma districts, and four in Narayanpur,” said Bastar range IG P Sundarraj.
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Many of the villages are in Tarrem and Pamed regions that were under the grip of the PLGA Battalion 1, commanded by the dreaded Hidma. But security camps were set up in Kondapalli, Jidpalli, Watevagu and Karengatta in Aug.
“People have never seen unfurling or hoisting of the national flag here,” The Times of India reports IG saying.
The 45km Tarrem-Pamed axis – skirting the Telangana border – was once dominated by PLGA 1 but now has several security camps. Though roads are under construction, they are motorable enough to establish camps. Police had struck a blow at the heart of Maoists last year when the Tricolour was hoisted in Puvarti, Hidma’s native village. The 30-odd villages where Republic Day were once “core Maoist area”.
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