When it first began, Salwa Judum was a people movement against Naxal violence in the wilds of Chhattisgarh. Armed with bows and axes, the adivasi tribes of the region sent the Naxals a strong message. In time, a part of Salwa Judum was armed by the state and given special police powers. Soon, what had started as a peace initiative took on a darker intent, becoming a law unto themselves with a reputation for brutality.