1st time in decades, tricolour hoisted in Maoist stronghold

For the first time in around three decades, the tricolor was on Sunday hoisted at Chindnar, a Maoist stronghold in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar district of Dantewada, on the occasion of 75th Independence Day.

Security forces hoisted the tricolor on the underconstruction bridge connecting Pahurnar and Chindnar in Dantewada district amid singing of patriotic songs by the local villagers who included school children.

“This was the first time in decades, the tricolor was hoisted in the area on Independence Day”, Dantewada district collector Dr Abhishek Pallav told this newspaper.

The development was viewed as ‘very significant’ in the security establishment in Chhattisgarh since the bridge leads to Abujhmad area, considered a Maoist stronghold.

The entire bridge, being built over the mighty Indravati river, was decorated with colourful balloons on the occasion.

The rebels used to hoist black flags in these areas on the Independence and Republic Days as a show of strength.

The Abujhmad area usually turns into a safe haven for senior Maoist leaders during monsoon season as the flooded Indravati cuts off the hilly region from the mainland during the period. Senior Maoist leaders, Mallesh, Ajey, Niti and Nirmala have been active in the region.

The area is inhabited by around 25,000 tribals in 15 villages. Four bridges, two in Dantewada district and two others in south Bastar district of Bijapur, over Indravati are nearing completion.