A disturbing image showing a group of women sitting near a cremation ground, with several bodies already cremated, is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that it is a recent photo related to Maoist or Naxalite violence in Chhattisgarh. However, our investigation reveals that this is an old image from January 2006, when 13 tribals were killed during a protest against a Tata Steel project in Kalinga Nagar, Odisha.
An X (formerly Twitter) user, @RPmulniwasi1, shared this image with the misleading and inflammatory claim:
This picture is from Chhattisgarh! In the last 6 months, more than 400 tribals have been killed in Chhattisgarh on the accusation that they are Naxalites and Maoists… so that they can easily snatch water, forest and land and give it to their masters Adani and Ambani… Is there really democracy in this country…?
Another user, @kamleshmewal, also posted the same image, claiming it shows a recent Maoist funeral in Chhattisgarh, further fueling the false narrative.
The picture is from Chhattisgarh! In the last 6 months, more than 600 people were killed in Chhattisgarh saying that they were Naxalites and Maoists. Is there really democracy in this country? If yes, then where is it?
Another user, @Youth_Army_IN, also posted this image with a provocative caption. Although the post was later deleted, we have preserved both a screenshot and an archive link for verification.
Many other users @singh336252050, @IndrajK97662239, @RohtasiRambhu And @chandusainishp also shared the same image with similar misleading narratives, amplifying the false claim across social media.
The Truth Behind the Image from Chhattisgarh:
When this viral image gained attention, the D-Intent Data Team conducted an in-depth investigation. Using reverse image search and historical news archive checks, we traced the origin of the image to the 2006 Kalinga Nagar massacrein Odisha’s Jajpur district. The image shows tribal women and community members gathered near the site where victims of police firing were cremated en masse after protesting against a steel plant being constructed on their ancestral land. Reports from Sabrang India and Kalinga Times confirm that on January 2, 2006, Odisha police opened fire on a large group of tribals protesting forced land acquisition. Thirteen people were killed, including women and children. The image being shared is from the aftermath of that incident, not from any recent Maoist or Naxal-related event in Chhattisgarh. The tragic event is still commemorated annually by tribal communities and activist groups in Odisha as a reminder of state violence and corporate land encroachment.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) May 28, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A disturbing image showing a group of women sitting near a cremation ground where multiple bodies have already been cremated is being shared claiming to be a recent image related to Maoists or Naxalites in Chhattisgarh.(1/3) pic.twitter.com/R8yOYfwLL0
INTENT:
Influencers are circulating old images with misleading claims to set their narrative to defend Maoists.
Conclusion:
Claim: The image shows a recent Maoist funeral in Chhattisgarh.
Fact: The image is from January 2006 and depicts the aftermath of police firing on tribal protestors in Kalinga Nagar, Odisha. It has no connection to any recent Maoist activity.
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