On Sunday, 23 November, a group of urban naxals — people posing as anti-pollution protestors — descended on the monument at India Gate. Under the pretext of addressing environmental pollution, they turned the gathering into a display of extremist sympathy. They raised slogans praising a deceased Maoist commander, Madvi Hidma, and attacked police officers using chilli spray.

At the forefront of this demonstration were two radical left-wing groups: Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (bsCEM) and The Himkhand. The protest was not truly about environmental causes — it was a carefully designed attempt to glorify “Red terror” (Maoist ideology) while harnessing popular anger over pollution to gather support.

The Himkhand runs two Instagram accounts — ‘thehimkhand’ and ‘the.himkhand’. A simple look at their feed shows that the group has been active since May 2024. Initially, they framed themselves as environmental activists concerned about climate change and ecological disruptions. But in a short time, the organisation shifted course. Soon, they began embracing regional politics and anti-establishment sentiments.

When the administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh cancelled the land allotment to the institute led by Sonam Wangchuk — the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL) — citing major irregularities, The Himkhand seized the opportunity. They attempted to stir unrest in the region by invoking demands for “Statehood” and lobbied for violence under the guise of protest.

In October this year, The Himkhand publicly supported what they called the “Ladakh movement.” In their posts, they did not just speak up for regional aspirations — they also justified violent tactics. For example, one of their posts from 5 October read: “The protestors’ act of torching the BJP office is a symbolic rejection of the party’s model of anti-Himalayan development. The people of Ladakh have delivered their mandate.”

In yet another post, the group tried to defend violence as nothing more than tools invented by the “ruling class” to suppress dissent, implicitly portraying violence as a legitimate form of resistance rather than a crime.

Notably, around the same period, The Himkhand invited Prashant Bhushan — a controversial figure widely criticised for his role during the 2020 anti-Hindu riots in Delhi — to speak at an event they organized on “air pollution.”

Investigations by Satyaagrah revealed that one of the activists leading The Himkhand is a person named Kranti. Photos show Kranti standing alongside another bsCEM activist, Ravjot, as the crowd chanted the chilling slogan: “Comrade Hidma Amar Rahe”.

The evidence makes it abundantly clear: Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch and The Himkhand are operating together. Their stated concern for the environment serves as a smokescreen; their real aim appears to be inciting violence and glorifying Maoist ideology — all under the cloak of climate activism.

Moreover, The Himkhand has positioned itself as a major force opposing infrastructure and development projects under the guise of “environmental conservatism.” For example, they have strongly opposed — and actively tried to block — projects such as the Char Dham Railway project.

With operations like Operation Kagar reportedly winding down and the elimination of many Maoist insurgents, outfits like The Himkhand and their urban-na­xal affiliates seem to be switching tactics. Now, they appear to be using social, economic, and environmental causes as their final means to influence people, brainwash minds, and further their extremist agenda.