A three-day Bastar Tricolour Yatra began from Narayanpur on Wednesday, taking a large convoy of bikers through areas of Bastar that were once considered strongholds of Maoist insurgents. The yatra, organised by the Chhattisgarh BJP, will pass through sensitive parts of Narayanpur, Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur before concluding at Karregutta hill on August 14, where the Tricolour is scheduled to be hoisted.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma is leading the motorcycle rally, with Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap and a large number of bikers, including women riders, participating in the event.

Security Checks Along Route

Given the security sensitivity of the region, teams from the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) are checking the roads and surrounding areas along the yatra route. Metal detectors are being used to inspect stretches of road before the convoy passes through.

The security arrangements are particularly significant as the route includes areas that were earlier regarded as Maoist core zones.

The convoy travelled through Barsur and the Indravati Satdhar bridge, an area described as a gateway towards Abujhmad from the Dantewada side. The bikers carried the national flag as they moved through the region.

Tribute to Maoist Attack Victims

The yatra will cover locations associated with major Maoist attacks, including Burkapal, Minpa-Tadmetla, Jagargunda, Silger and Tekalgudem.

Tributes will be paid to security personnel and civilians who lost their lives in Maoist violence. Organisers also plan to collect soil from sites where security personnel were killed.

The collected soil is proposed to be preserved in a future memorial museum dedicated to those who lost their lives in the conflict.

‘One Tree in the Name of Martyrs’

As part of the ‘Ek Ped Shaheedon Ke Naam’ campaign, saplings will also be planted at selected locations along the route.

The organisers said the initiative is intended to remember the sacrifices made by security personnel and civilians while also promoting a message of peace, democracy and development in Bastar.

Women Bikers Join Rally

The yatra has also drawn participation from women bikers from different districts. Local youth, voluntary organisations, women's groups, NCC and NSS members, Nehru Yuva Kendra representatives, Scouts and Guides and public representatives are also participating.

At several locations, local residents and schoolchildren gathered to welcome the convoy. In Kadenar, schoolchildren were seen holding Tricolours as the bikers passed through the village.

The organisers said the participation of young people is aimed at highlighting a changing social environment in areas that witnessed prolonged violence.

From Maoist Zone to Tricolour Route

The convoy also passed through Dhaudai, Munjmeta, Jharagaon and Kanharagaon, among other locations. These areas have historically been associated with Maoist activity and security operations.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said the objective of the yatra is to take the Tricolour to areas where movement was once restricted because of the security situation. The programme also seeks to remember those who sacrificed their lives and encourage young people to participate in the democratic mainstream.

The yatra will continue through the sensitive Bastar belt before reaching Karregutta hill on August 14, where the organisers plan to mark the conclusion by hoisting the national flag.

Message of Peace and Democracy

Beyond being a motorcycle rally, organisers have described the event as an attempt to connect remote areas of Bastar with a broader message of national unity, peace, security and democracy.

The combination of tributes, plantation drives, collection of soil from martyr sites and interaction with local communities is intended to underline the transition the region has undergone after years of Maoist violence.