Operation Kagar– Chhattisgarh’s darkest chapter, hundreds of Adivasis killed
Raipur: The Indian government’s Operation Kagar, aimed at eradicating Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, has led to serious allegations of human rights violations and communal tensions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the operation, launched in 2024, involves deploying over 60,000 armed forces’ personnel and establishing fortified camps on tribal lands. However, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has reported unprecedented violence in Bastar, with at least 500 Adivasi individuals killed between January 2024 and October 2025.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) allege that many encounters are staged extrajudicial killings of villagers labeled as Maoists. In January 2026, security forces reported killing 14 alleged Maoists, but activists claim the victims were unarmed villagers.
Communal incidents have also spiked in Chhattisgarh, with Hindu nationalist groups involved in mob violence and home demolitions.
In February 2026, a mob attacked Muslim families’ homes in Gariaband, displacing them.
Minority communities, including Christians and Muslims, face harassment and violence. The Chhattisgarh anti-conversion law is used to target minorities, and hate speech incidents have been reported.
The situation raises concerns about human rights, minority rights, and the rule of law in Chhattisgarh.
