The main character of the story is Neerja Madhavan (Adah Sharma), a serious police officer in a high-ranking position in the CRPF, tasked with stopping the Naxal rebellion. The movie starts in a courtroom where the government and Naxal representatives are fighting in court. Neerja uses Special Police Officers (SPOs) and a government-backed group called Salwa Judum to stop the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh. At the same time, we follow the story of Ratna (Indira Tiwari), a tribal woman whose husband was brutally killed by a famous Naxalite named Lanka Reddy. Seeking revenge, Ratna joins the police force and helps Neerja in her mission.

Bastar: The Naxal Story offers a one-dimensional perspective on the complex issue of Naxalism, presenting them solely as anti-national elements without delving into the intricacies of the problem. The film falls short in providing a nuanced understanding, as it paints all left-wing ideologies and liberal politics as inherently anti-national, overlooking the diversity of perspectives within these realms. Moreover, the portrayal of intellectuals and journalists as collaborators in undermining national integrity lacks depth and fails to explore the multifaceted roles these individuals play in society. It points fingers at universities such as JNU (though it’s not named as such), saying it’s a den of anti-nationals. And also alludes that a certain party, with its Gandhian thought-base, is detrimental to the wellbeing of the nation and is sponsoring terrorism via Naxals. The movie compares the Maoist rebellion to groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram. It also suggests connections between the leaders of the Naxal movement and organisations such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and Filipino communist groups.

The narrative also attempts to attribute an improvement in the situation post-2010 to the efforts of the present government. This oversimplification neglects the contributions and challenges faced by various stakeholders in addressing the Naxal issue. Furthermore, the film’s use of graphic scenes, such as the initial decapitation scene, may be excessive and potentially alienating to some viewers. While such depictions can serve to highlight the severity of the violence associated with Naxalism, their gratuitous nature risks overshadowing the underlying message of the film.

Adah Sharma’s portrayal of a dedicated police officer is well within the bounds of the script. At times, it becomes too loud. Overall, Bastar: The Naxal Story falls short in providing a balanced and nuanced portrayal of its subject matter, opting instead for a sensationalised narrative that fails to capture the complexities of the issue at hand.

BRS leader K Kavitha was arrested at 5:20 pm on Friday evening, but 40 minutes later, at 6pm, people claiming to be her brother and lawyers entered the Telangana leader’s Banjara Hills home unlawfully and delayed the proceedings, the Enforcement Directorate has claimed.

Ms Kavitha, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in Telangana and the daughter of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested today in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.

“At around 6 pm, few persons who claimed themselves as brother of K Kavitha, lawyers and other persons around 20 in number entered the premises unlawfully. On being asked their identity, none showed their identity. A ruckus was created which delayed the proceedings,” said the central probe agency, which investigates financial frauds.

The searches began at 1:45 pm and concluded at 6:45 pm, said the agency.

In a dramatic video, Ms Kavitha’s brother and former Telangana minister KT Rama Rao can be seen confronting agency officials after he was asked how family members had entered the house.

Mr Rao accused the officials of violating an undertaking the agency had given to the Supreme Court. “You are in serious trouble,” he is heard saying on camera. Legal remedies are available, an ED shot back.

“After the due process of law, K Kavitha was arrested under section 19 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 at 5:20 pm,” said the central agency, adding that five mobiles were seized in the searches.

“The search was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner and no damage to the person or property was caused during the course of the search. During the search proceedings, no religious sentiments of anybody were hurt and Covid 19 protocol was followed,” the agency added.

Videos also showed the agency’s cars being surrounded when they were leaving with Ms Kavitha.

Mr Rao has, however, claimed the family is cooperating with the agency. Terming the arrest illegal, he said he and other senior leaders have asked party workers to remain peaceful and not prevent the arrest.

The Enforcement Directorate has claimed that Ms Kavitha was part of a lobby called the ‘South Group’, which played a key role in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam.

The BRS leader has said in the past that she had done nothing illegal, and accused the BJP of using the ED for political gains.
 

Ahead of the delivery of six Apache attack helicopters from the US from May onwards, the Army on Friday raised the squadron for the heavy-duty choppers at Jodhpur along the western front with Pakistan. The Apache squadron was raised in the presence of Army Aviation’s director general Lt-General Ajay Suri and other officials.