Salwa Judum founder escapes landmine blast

Chhattisgarh Congress leader Mahendra Karma, who is credited with founding the anti-Maoist movement Salwa Judum, escaped a landmine blast on Thursday while his motorcade was passing through a forest in Dantewada district.

Chhattisgarh Congress leader Mahendra Karma, who is credited with founding the anti-Maoist movement Salwa Judum, escaped a landmine blast on Thursday while his motorcade was passing through a forest in Dantewada district.

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"Karma had a miraculous escape... The leader was on way to Barsoor from Dantewada," Special Director General of Police Ramniwas said.

He said that Karma, who was travelling in a bullet-proof car, escaped unhurt but his driver and two security guards were injured.

Salwa Judum, which means "peace march" in the local language, was a movement which armed rural and tribal youth against the Maoists.

On July 5, 2011, the Supreme Court declared the militia unconstitutional and asked the Chhattisgarh government to disband it.