Jhiram Ghati verdict: Legacy of Mahendra Karma, Salwa Judum architect, examined

A verdict in the Jhiram Ghati case has reignited debate over the legacy of Mahendra Karma, the former Chhattisgarh minister who was a prominent face of the Salwa Judum counter-insurgency program. Karma, known as the 'Tiger of Bastar,' was killed in a Maoist attack in the Jhiram Ghati area in 2013.

The court's decision now brings into focus Karma's role in state anti-Maoist operations and the Salwa Judum initiative, which has remained a contentious political and human rights issue in Chhattisgarh.