2006 image from Odisha linked to recent anti-naxal operation in Chhattisgarh

The central government, along with the administration in Chhattisgarh, has intensified its crackdown against Naxalism with its latest ‘Operation Kagar’. In the first four months of 2025, 197 Maoists have been killed, according to government data. This follows Union home minister Amit Shah‘s pledge last year to make India Naxalism-free by March 31, 2026. 

Amidst this, on social media, a picture showing a row of women sitting next to burnt pyres covered in white was widely shared with claims that it is from Chhattisgarh. Those sharing it said it was sad that despite having Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, as the country’s President, over 400 innocent tribals in Chhattisgarh were labelled as Naxals (Maoists) and killed over the last six months. Additionally, they also questioned why India could not have peace talks with its own citizens when it can do so with terror groups and Pakistan.

Chhattisgarh has a fraught history with Naxalism and state action. Tribals in Chhattisgarh have, on several occasions, accused security forces of killing innocent villagers in fake encounters. (Examples here, here, here, here and here.)

Coming back to the viral image. Many shared the photo on Facebook with similar claims. (Archives 1, 2, 3)

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On X, users Deepak Babu, Chandra Prakash Saini and Chhattisgarh Congress Sevadal shared the picture with similarly worded claims. (Archives 1, 2, 3)

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The image was viral on LinkedIn and Instagram as well.

Note that the picture emerges after a major operation against Naxalites was carried out in the Abujhmad area of ​​the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on May 21. 27 Maoists, including the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basava Raju, were killed in this. However, readers must note that

Fact Check

Alt News did a reverse image search and found that the viral photo is actually several years old. We found a post from June 23, 2022, by social activist and Tribal Army founder Hansraj Meena, which said that 13 tribals were killed while protesting against their displacement owing to Tata Steel’s new factory in Kalinga Nagar in the Jajpur district of Odisha. They died in police firing, the post said.

The same image was also circulated on social media around October 9, 2024, by several writers and social activists following the death of Tata scion Ratan Tata, criticising the company’s actions.

Around that time, the image also resurfaced across several magazines and websites. An article from Pakshi magazine said that the photo showed funerals of 13 villagers who were killed in police firing during a protest against the Tata Steel plant in Kalinganagar on January 2, 2006.

Alt News also reached out to a senior journalist and activist from Odisha, who confirmed that the image was indeed from Kalinganagar.

Reports by BBC Hindi and The Hindu’s Frontline say that on January 2, 2006, police in Odisha opened fire on male and female tribals armed with traditional weapons (bows and arrows and axes), who were protesting the construction of a boundary wall for Tata Steel’s proposed steel plant in the state’s Kalinganagar. In less than an hour, paddy fields near the site of the incident were stained with blood and 12 people, including a 13-year-old student and three women, were killed. Demonstrators also killed a policeman.

In other words, the viral picture is not from Chhattisgarh and is unrelated to the recent anti-Naxal operation underway in the state. The image is from Odisha and shows the funerals of tribals who were killed in police firing in 2006.