Naxalism started as a movement against land alienation. Today it has become a popular movement against natural resource alienation, particularly forests. Large areas of densely forested regions in the country are controlled by Naxalites. In these forested areas, the state and forest administration dare not enter. Naxalites use the growing alienation of tribal people against forest laws to gain ground. They secure tribal rights over non- timber forest produce and dispense quick justice -- at gunpoint. Sadly, the victims of Naxal violence are invariably the custodians of our forests -- forest guards. What is even more unfortunate is that they lose their lives defending laws that are so anti-people. Down To Earth reporters travel to these densely forested areas to discover what the Naxal rule means for forest management