India, Aug. 13 -- Hundreds of motorbikes carrying national flags sped through Bastar, long considered a hotbed of banned Maoist cadres, as the three-day Bastar Tiranga Yatra commenced, signalling a transformation towards peace and security across the region.

The rally was flagged off on Wednesday from the Higher Secondary School ground in Narayanpur district by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, who both joined the procession on motorcycles. Over 200 motorbikes, driven by local residents and community representatives, set off amidst patriotic slogans to cover routes historically dominated by Maoist insurgency.

The convoy is scheduled to conclude its journey at the Karregutta hills in Bijapur district, ...