July 2009

Whythe state collapsed
COVER STORY| insurgencies| lalgarh
LALGARH was a reality show par excellence for the TV crews that descended on it. Hundreds of police and paramilitary jawans were on the march from all sides to reclaim an area lost to Maoists. Helicopters flew overhead and, with no visible target, dropped leaflets for the villagers. Rumour was rife that the roads were mined, guerrilla squads were about to attack the forces and a veritable mahabharata was in the offing.