What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

Examiners may confuse Salwa Judum with other civilian militias or anti-Naxal forces. Remember: Salwa Judum was struck down by SC in 2011, while DRG (District Reserve Guard) is a legal state force that later absorbed its members. Also, do not confuse the Sixth Schedule (applicable to Northeast) with the Fifth Schedule (applicable to Central Indian tribal areas including Bastar).

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 28 people killed in Jhiram Ghati attack (May 2013); 10 Maoists convicted in 2026 2. Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court struck down Salwa Judum in 2011 (Nandini Sundar case) 3. Target this Legal Point: Salwa Judum declared unconstitutional for violating fundamental rights (Article 14, 21)

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News 5 of 17

Jhiram Ghati Attack Verdict: 10 Maoists Convicted for 2013 Massacre of Mahendra Karma

Q: Which constitutional provision was cited by the Supreme Court to strike down the Salwa Judum civilian militia in 2011?

Violation of Article 14 and Article 21 (Fundamental Rights), In the Nandini Sundar vs. State of Chhattisgarh (2011) case, the Supreme Court declared the Salwa Judum unconstitutional for violating the fundamental rights to equality (Article 14) and protection of life and personal liberty (Article 21). The court held that arming civilians as SPOs without training violated these rights.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the Jhiram Ghati attack and Mahendra Karma: 1. Mahendra Karma was a tribal leader and the founder of the Salwa Judum civilian militia, which was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. 2. The Jhiram Ghati attack in May 2013 killed 28 people, including Karma, and all 10 accused Maoists were convicted in 2026. 3. Karma's family alleges a political conspiracy involving top police and BJP leaders, which the NIA investigated thoroughly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct: Mahendra Karma was the face of the Salwa Judum, which was struck down by the SC in 2011. Statement 2 is correct: The attack killed 28, and all 10 accused were convicted in 2026. Statement 3 is incorrect: The NIA never spoke with Karma's family, and the alleged conspiracy investigation (by a SIT formed in 2020) went cold after BJP returned to power.

Q: How many people were killed in the Jhiram Ghati attack of May 2013, and how many Maoists were convicted in the verdict of September 2026?

28 killed; 10 convicted, The article states that Mahendra Karma (aged 62) was killed along with 27 others, totaling 28 fatalities. All 10 Maoists accused in the attack were convicted on Saturday (September 5, 2026). The other options are incorrect distractors.

Q: What was the primary reason for the Supreme Court striking down the Salwa Judum civilian militia in 2011?

It violated fundamental rights of citizens by arming civilians without training, The Supreme Court in Nandini Sundar vs. State of Chhattisgarh (2011) held that the Salwa Judum's recruitment of civilians as Special Police Officers (SPOs) without proper training and arming them violated the fundamental rights to equality (Article 14) and life (Article 21). The court found that the state failed in its duty to protect citizens, leading to human rights abuses.

Polity Security & DefenceHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

05 Sept 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:28 killed10 Maoists convictedMay 2013September 2026Mahendra Karma age 62Salwa Judum struck down 2011

Bodies:Supreme CourtNIACongressBJPDistrict Reserve Guard (DRG)

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.Special court convicts all 10 Maoists in 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack, which killed 28 including Congress leader Mahendra Karma.

2.Mahendra Karma, known as 'Tiger of Bastar', was the face of the Salwa Judum militia, later declared unconstitutional by the SC in 2011.

3.The verdict highlights the continuing political and security implications of the Salwa Judum, whose members were later inducted into the District Reserve Guard (DRG).

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

A special court convicted all 10 Maoists accused in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack that killed 28 people, including prominent anti-Naxal leader Mahendra Karma. The verdict revives debates around the controversial Salwa Judum civilian militia, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2011, and its legacy in Chhattisgarh's ongoing Maoist conflict.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Attack DateMay 2013

Total Killed28 (including Mahendra Karma)

Verdict DateSeptember 5, 2026

Accused Convicted10 Maoists

Salwa Judum Struck Down2011 (by Supreme Court)

Karma's Age at Death62

1-Minute Revision

›Attack Date: May 2013
›Total Killed: 28 (including Mahendra Karma)
›Target this Data: 28 people killed in Jhiram Ghati attack (May 2013); 10 Maoists convicted in 2026
›Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court struck down Salwa Judum in 2011 (Nandini Sundar case)
›Target this Legal Point: Salwa Judum declared unconstitutional for violating fundamental rights (Article 14, 21)

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News Snapshot

⚖️

Verdict After 13 Years

All 10 Maoists convicted for the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack that killed 28 people, including Congress leader Mahendra Karma.

🦁

The 'Tiger of Bastar'

Mahendra Karma was a prominent anti-Maoist tribal leader and the face of the Salwa Judum civilian militia, later ruled unconstitutional by the SC.

🔄

Salwa Judum's Unresolved Legacy

The militia's members, after being struck down, were inducted into the DRG, and Karma's family alleges a political conspiracy behind the attack.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The Jhiram Ghati attack occurred in May 2013 in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, targeting a Congress convoy. Mahendra Karma, a former CPI member turned anti-Maoist crusader, was the prime target. He had survived multiple attempts before being killed along with 27 others. The attack was a major escalation in the state's long-running Maoist insurgency.

Core Analysis & Implications

The verdict brings back focus on the Salwa Judum, a civilian militia formed to counter Maoists. Karma was its face, but the SC struck it down in 2011 as unconstitutional, citing human rights abuses. The militia's members were later absorbed into the state's District Reserve Guard (DRG), a special anti-Naxal force. This has created a complex legacy where Karma is both a hero and a controversial figure.

Political and Security Dimensions

Karma's son Chhavindra alleges the attack was a 'political conspiracy' involving top police and BJP leaders, and that the NIA never investigated this angle. The Congress government formed a SIT in 2020, but the probe stalled after BJP returned to power. This reflects the deep politicization of the anti-Maoist fight in Chhattisgarh.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

While the verdict provides closure for some, the Karma family claims justice is incomplete without probing the alleged conspiracy. The Salwa Judum's legacy continues through the DRG, and its human rights implications remain unresolved. The Maoist insurgency in Bastar, though weakened, is far from over, as indicated by Chhavindra Karma's cautionary statement.

Key Facts at a Glance

Attack DateMay 2013

Total Killed28 (including Mahendra Karma)

Verdict DateSeptember 5, 2026

Accused Convicted10 Maoists

Salwa Judum Struck Down2011 (by Supreme Court)

Karma's Age at Death62

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Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageMediumUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Which constitutional provision was cited by the Supreme Court to strike down the Salwa Judum civilian militia in 2011?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the Jhiram Ghati attack and Mahendra Karma:

1. Mahendra Karma was a tribal leader and the founder of the Salwa Judum civilian militia, which was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

2. The Jhiram Ghati attack in May 2013 killed 28 people, including Karma, and all 10 accused Maoists were convicted in 2026.

3. Karma's family alleges a political conspiracy involving top police and BJP leaders, which the NIA investigated thoroughly.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasyUPSC, SSC, Banking

How many people were killed in the Jhiram Ghati attack of May 2013, and how many Maoists were convicted in the verdict of September 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC, State PSC

What was the primary reason for the Supreme Court striking down the Salwa Judum civilian militia in 2011?

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Jhiram Ghati Attack Verdict: 10 Maoists Convicted for 2013 Massacre of Mahendra Karma

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Verdict After 13 Years

The 'Tiger of Bastar'

Salwa Judum's Unresolved Legacy

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Political and Security Dimensions

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance