Hidden "Naxal Island" in Chhattisgarh| TRUTH or LIE?

In the middle of the Indiravati River lies Birabati—an island village that feels completely cut off from the modern world. According to police records and local reports, this area is a "Red Zone," a hideout for Naxals. But when I crossed the river to see it for myself, I found a very different reality.

The Journey & The Isolation Reaching this village was not easy. I had to cross the river in a small, fragile boat, the only lifeline for the people living here. During the monsoon season, the villagers told me this river becomes a curse—the water levels rise, cutting them off entirely from the mainland. If someone gets sick during the rains, there is no way to reach a hospital. There are no medical facilities on the island, and I didn't see any functioning schools for the children. Life here feels stuck in a different era, with people living in broken mud structures and struggling for basic meals.

The Conflict: Police vs. Villagers There are two sides to this story, and I am presenting both:

The Administration's View: The police have labeled this area a Naxal stronghold. Recently, authorities apprehended some villagers from here, identifying them as insurgents. The official stance is that this island harbors those who fight against the state.

The Villagers' View: When I sat down with the locals, they told me a different story. They claimed they are just farmers living in fear. They said they have been labeled as "Naxals" simply because of where they live. They spoke to me openly on camera—without weapons/masks—and told me they are tired of the fear.

The Surrender Perhaps the most shocking moment was when the villagers told me they are planning to go to the police station tomorrow to "surrender." They told me they don't have weapons to hand over, but they want to surrender themselves just to get the "Naxal" label removed from their names so they can live in peace.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: I am a travel vlogger, not an investigative agency or a judge. I cannot claim whether these villagers are truly innocent or if the police intelligence is correct. I cannot verify the truth or falsity of their legal status. This video simply documents what I saw with my own eyes and what the people on the ground told me. I am leaving it up to you, the viewer, to watch the footage and decide what the reality is.