Jhiram Ghati verdict: What remains of the legacy of Mahendra Karma, ‘Tiger of Bastar’, face of Salwa Judum?

On Saturday, a verdict was delivered convicting all 10 Maoists accused in the Jhiram Ghati attack from May 2013. The family of their primary target, Mahendra Karma, the 62-year-old tribal activist and leader behind the Salwa Judum, expressed their continued pursuit of justice. Karma, along with 27 others, was killed in the attack.

A tribal voice against Maoists in Chhattisgarh for decades, Karma was also the face of the Salwa Judum, a group of civilians turned Special Police Officers (SPOs) to combat Maoists, despite later controversies surrounding human rights abuses. The Supreme Court struck down Salwa Judum in 2011 due to its unconstitutionality and violation of fundamental rights.

Despite this, Karma's resolve to confront Maoists at their peak was not undermined by his rivals. His three sons and wife are under protection from the Central government. His son Chhavindra claims that many supporters were also killed by Maoists later. Despite the BJP government's claim of ending the Maoist movement, the family remains skeptical. Karma's political family members have joined politics, but justice remains elusive for them.