On March 28th, the Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) organized an event titled "Bastar Killing Fields" at TEFLAS Union Hall, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The program marked 15 months since the launch of Operation Kagaar and examined its impact on the region.
The event featured speakers including Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Distinguished Professor at the Council of Social Development, Delhi; Human Rights Activist Himanshu Kumar; and Prof. Saroj Giri from the Department of Political Science, Delhi University, who is also a FACAM member. The discussion was moderated by FACAM members Baadal and Ehtmam. A tribute was paid to over 400 individuals who lost their lives in the conflict.
FACAM also released its official newsletter, "KAAR: Chronicle of 14 months of Operation Kagaar," which documents state-led violence, including reports of civilian casualties and human rights violations. The newsletter examines the connection between corporate interests and state actions in regions like Bastar, Jharkhand, and Sijimali. It also addresses the suppression of local resistance movements, including the ban on Moolwasi Bachao Manch, and provides an analysis of the broader political and economic context.
Key Discussions and Insights
Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty highlighted the increased militarization of Bastar, noting the proliferation of paramilitary camps as a means to facilitate resource extraction. He compared the situation to similar developments in mineral-rich regions such as Sijimali and emphasized the need to recognize Hindutva Fascism, corporatization, and militarization as interconnected forces shaping the region’s conflicts.
Himanshu Kumar discussed the human rights implications of the state's actions in Bastar, recounting incidents such as the Gompad Massacre (2009) and Nendra Mass Rapes (2016). He questioned the large-scale deployment of paramilitary forces in the region and criticized the lack of response from political parties regarding the violence faced by Adivasi communities.
Prof. Saroj Giri examined the role of organized resistance by Adivasi peasantry in countering corporate encroachment. He emphasized that the scale of repression reflects the intensity of local resistance and underscored the importance of understanding these movements in a broader socio-political context.
The event sought to analyze the intersection of state policy, corporate interests, and local resistance in Bastar, contributing to the ongoing discourse on militarization and resource exploitation in the region.
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*Freelance journalist
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