In May 2025, a major encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Abujmarh forest led to the death of top Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao and 27 others, marking a significant blow to Naxalite insurgency.
In the above context, an image is widely being shared on social media in which some people are seen sitting beside some corpses. The image is shared with a caption claiming that it shows Naxalites who were killed in the Chhattisgarh encounter.
A social media user shared the image with the caption that reads, “This picture is of Chhattisgarh! In the last six months, more than 400 people were killed in Chhattisgarh because they were Naxalites and Maoists. Does this country really have democracy? When there can be peace talks with terrorists and Pakistan, then why not with the citizens of our country? The truth is that tribals are being eradicated from Chhattisgarh. And this is being done when a tribal community woman sits at the highest place in the country!” (Translated from Hindi)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral image is from Orissa.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same image was shared by an X account on June 25, 2022.
The image was shared with a caption suggesting that the viral image is of January 2, 2006, when 13 tribals were shot dead while protesting against new Tata steel plant in Kaling Nagar Odisha. The caption reads, “On Jan 2, 2006, the tribals were protesting against new TATA steel plant in Kaling Nagar Odisha. The then alliance govt of BJD & BJP started police firings to snatch the land of Tribals. 13 Tribals were shot dead. Draupadi Murmu was minister in that govt but she was silent too. (sic)”
We found that the same image was also published by a Malayalam website, Pakshi Magazine, on October 13, 2024. The caption associated with the image read, “Footage from the funeral of 13 villagers killed in police firing during a protest against a Tata Steel plant in Kalinga Nagar on January 2, 2006.”
Searching with relevant keywords, we found a news report by News Click published on December 20, 2017, which stated that the Justice Mohanty Commission’s report on the 2006 Kalinganagar police firing, which resulted in 13 tribal deaths, deemed the action justified due to failed non-lethal measures. This conclusion sparked protests from activists, who criticised the report for overlooking state accountability and the unmet promises of compensation and employment to displaced communities.
What was Operation Black Forest?
Moreover, according to a report published by All India Radio, between April 21 and May 11, Indian security forces conducted a 21-day anti-Maoist operation, known as Operation Black Forest, in the Karregutta Hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The operation resulted in the elimination of 31 Maoists, including 16 women, and the destruction of significant insurgent infrastructure, such as 214 bunkers and four weapons manufacturing units. Security forces also recovered 35 weapons, 450 IEDs, and approximately 12,000 kg of ration supplies. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation as a historic success in the government's resolve to make India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.
Hence, we conclude that the viral claim is false.
