Watch in pics: Tragic life of tribals in Maoist-dominated areas of India

New Delhi: Maoists have been dominating a large tract of Bastar and Dandakaranya forests in Chhattisgarh-Odisha-Andhra Pradesh belt for the last 40 years.With the state police and paramilitary mounting offensive against the Maoists hiding in the forests, the tribals are caught in the crossfire. Because of the blockade by Maoists in large parts of the areas where they dominate, the fruits of development hardly reach the tribals, who live in a state of penury, at the mercy of the extremists and the security forces. We present here glimpses from the life of tribals living in Maoist-affected areas: 1. Maoists often terrorize people, they claim to protect Adivasis and have killed many of them on suspicion of being police informers. 2. These are the tribals living in the Maoist-affected areas in the forests of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh etc. 3. There are approximately 84 million tribals in this part of India. Their land has rich mineral deposits which are worth billions of rupees, and because of this, the tribals are gradually being uprooted by the government. 4. Left with no option, the tribals fall into the trap of Maoists who brainwash them and use them as fodder in their fight against the State. 5. The tribals have hardly any access to medical centres, schools, and their children suffer from malnutrition and the women are deprived of basic healthcare. 6. The tribals are often the victims of violence and counter violence between the Maoists and security forces. 7. The Maoists, who describe themselves as saviours of the tribal people, unleash violence on anyone they suspect of not supporting their cause. 8. The state authorities allege that Maoists burn homes and loot granaries of these tribals who refuse to join them. 9. The most affected are the tribals in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh who have sought refuge along the roads along Dantewada as their homes have been taken over by Maoists.