A memorial tribute ceremony was held in Jagdalpur on Sunday to honor senior Congress leaders and security personnel who lost their lives in the Jhiram Valley attack, one of the deadliest political attacks in the history of Chhattisgarh.
Leaders of the Bastar District Congress Committee, party workers, former public representatives, and local supporters gathered to remember late tribal leader Mahendra Karma and other victims of the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre.
Tribute Ceremony Organized at Rajiv Bhavan
The tribute event was organized under the leadership of Bastar City Congress Committee President Sushil Maurya at Rajiv Bhavan in Jagdalpur.
Party leaders and workers paid floral tributes and observed remembrance ceremonies in honor of Mahendra Karma on his death anniversary. Attendees also visited his statue at Jhankar Chowk, where garlands and flowers were offered as a mark of respect.
Later, Congress members visited the Martyrs Memorial at Lalbagh and the Jhiram Memorial at Darbha Valley to pay homage to Mahendra Karma, senior Congress leader Nand Kumar Patel, and several other leaders and security personnel who were killed in the attack.
Leaders Recall Jhiram Valley Attack as a Dark Chapter
Speaking during the ceremony, Congress leader Sushil Maurya described the Jhiram Valley incident as “one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the state.”
He said the attack caused deep pain to families and society while leaving a lasting impact on the political landscape of the region.
Maurya praised Mahendra Karma for his efforts toward tribal welfare, regional development, and public-interest issues in Bastar. He said Karma consistently raised the voice of tribal communities and worked to strengthen the social, political, and cultural identity of the Bastar region.
He also remembered Nand Kumar Patel for his contribution to organizational leadership and public service within the Congress party.
“The lives and sacrifices of these martyr leaders remain a source of inspiration for society and future generations,” Maurya said during the event.
Tribute to Fallen Security Personnel
Congress leaders also paid homage to security personnel who died in the Jhiram Valley attack while protecting political leaders during the convoy movement.
Speakers at the ceremony said the sacrifices of both political leaders and security forces would never be forgotten and emphasized the need to uphold democratic values, social harmony, and public service ideals for which they stood.
Former Leaders Attend Memorial Event
Former legislator Rekhchand Jain said the Jhiram Valley attack was among the most painful incidents in both state and national political history, as the region lost several experienced and widely respected public leaders.
Former Mayor Jatin Jaiswal stated that the sacrifices and ideals of the leaders killed in the attack would continue to inspire future generations.
Leader of Opposition Rajesh Chaudhary described the incident as “a cowardly attack on democracy,” adding that the state lost many experienced and popular leaders in the tragedy.
Large Number of Congress Workers Participate
Several Congress office-bearers and party workers attended the memorial event, including Virendra Parihar, Anwar Khan, Hemu Upadhyay, Aparna Bajpai, Sanjeev Sharma, Gaur Nath Nag, Suraj Kashyap, Kaushal Nagvanshi, Abhishek Naidu, Subhash Gulati, Zahid Hussain, Anurag Mahato, Nitish Sharma, Mahadev Nag, Ravi Shankar Tiwari, Venkat Rao, Lata Nishad, Champa Thakur, S. Neela, Vijendra Thakur, Prashant Jain, Lalita Rao, Mohsin Khan, councilor Shubham Yadu, Kamlesh Pathak, and Abhash Mahanti, among others.
About the Jhiram Valley Attack
The Jhiram Valley attack took place in May 2013 in Bastar region when a convoy of Congress leaders was ambushed in Darbha Valley. The incident claimed the lives of several senior political leaders and security personnel and remains one of the most significant insurgency-related attacks in India’s political history.
The attack continues to be remembered annually across Chhattisgarh as a symbol of sacrifice, political violence, and the resilience of democratic institutions.
