Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Tricolour To Fly In 35+ Former Naxal Villages In MP
India celebrates a big holiday called Independence Day every year on August 15.
This year is the 80th Independence Day.
In a part of India called Madhya Pradesh, there are villages where people were too scared to celebrate this day.
Bad people called Naxals used to frighten everyone in those villages.
The police and the government worked hard to make the area safe.
Now the villages are free of the Naxals.
For the very first time, the Indian flag will be lifted up high in more than 35 of those villages.
Children and grown-ups will march together with the police.
There will be songs, games and sports events to enjoy.
The happy villagers will celebrate being free from both the old British rulers and the Naxals.
The National Flag will be hoisted for the first time in more than 35 formerly Naxal-affected villages in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat and Mandla districts on Independence Day.
The 80th Independence Day falls on August 15, 2026, after all three LWE-affected districts—Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori—were declared free of Left Wing Extremism.
Patriotic programs will run from August 13-14, 2026, under the Special Tiranga Yatra and Naxal-free India Campaign.
A Tiranga Yatra will be taken out for the first time by schoolchildren, youth and Panchayat representatives with local police, the Hawk Force and Village Security Committees.
Balaghat IG Lalit Shakyawar said tribute and felicitation ceremonies will honour local heroes, freedom fighters and security forces at the village level.
- Who
- Residents of more than 35 formerly Naxal-affected villages in Balaghat and Mandla districts, joined by schoolchildren, youth, Panchayat representatives, police, the Hawk Force and Village Security Committees; Balaghat Inspector General Lalit Shakyawar announced the commemorations.
- What
- The Indian National Flag will be hoisted for the first time in these villages as part of 80th Independence Day celebrations and the Special Tiranga Yatra and Naxal-free India Campaign.
- When
- August 15, 2026 (80th Independence Day), with patriotic programs running from August 13-14, 2026.
- Where
- Balaghat and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, including villages such as Palagundi, Kodwapar, Chilkona, Chukkatola and around 19 villages of the Paraswada area.
- Why
- The districts were declared free of Left Wing Extremism due to security operations, continuous police area domination and public trust-building efforts, so villagers can now celebrate Independence Day without fear of Naxal reprisals.
- Event
- 80th Independence Day celebrations with first-ever flag hoisting in 35+ former Naxal villages
- Date
- August 15, 2026
- Programs
- August 13-14, 2026
- Location
- Balaghat and Mandla districts, Madhya Pradesh
- State LWE-affected villages
- 644 (Balaghat 469, Mandla 115, Dindori 60)
- Campaign
- Special Tiranga Yatra and Naxal-free India Campaign
- Organizers
- Balaghat Police, Hawk Force, Village Security Committees, Panchayat representatives
- Key official
- Balaghat IG Lalit Shakyawar