Maoist Encounters Surge as BJP Government Intensifies Crackdown on Left-Wing Extremism

 

In a series of decisive operations aimed at curbing Maoist terrorism, 15 Maoists were killed in separate encounters over the past week in Chhattisgarh and Telangana.

 

The latest operation in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana saw six Maoists neutralised in a gunfight with police forces.

 

A day prior, another significant encounter in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh resulted in the deaths of nine Maoists.

 

These encounters underscore the Modi government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism, as Home Minister Amit Shah had pledged earlier.

 

During a review meeting last month, Shah declared the government’s objective to completely eliminate the Maoist threat by March 2026.

 

He emphasised that the Left-wing extremism issue has been largely confined to a few regions in Chhattisgarh, thanks to the government’s relentless efforts.

 

 

Since the BJP assumed power in Chhattisgarh in 2023, the crackdown on Maoists has intensified significantly.

 

Amit Shah lauded the state government’s operations, noting that over the past seven months, security forces have successfully neutralised a record number of Maoists, facilitated mass surrenders, and made numerous arrests.

 

These measures, Shah affirmed, are a testament to the BJP's resolve to restore peace and stability in Maoist-affected regions.

 

One of the most notable operations in recent times occurred in April, when the Border Security Force (BSF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) carried out a joint mission in Kanker, resulting in the deaths of 29 Maoists.

 

This operation marked the largest Maoist casualty count in a single encounter in Chhattisgarh's anti-Naxal history, with reports suggesting that one of the Maoist leaders was among those killed.

 

 

Much of the recent success against Maoists has been attributed to Operation Prahar, a joint initiative of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Chhattisgarh Police, aimed at flushing out Maoists from their strongholds in the Bastar region.

 

Launched in 2017, Operation Prahar builds on previous anti-Naxal efforts like Operation Green Hunt and Operation Samadhan-Prahar, but with sharper focus and execution.

 

Under the BJP government's leadership, the operation has gained unprecedented momentum.

 

In the first five months of 2024 alone, the Chhattisgarh government set up 32 new police camps in Maoist-dominated areas, compared to the average of 16-17 camps set up annually during the previous Congress regime.

 

The government has also prioritised the development of critical infrastructure, such as roads and telecom towers, to enhance the mobility and communication capabilities of security forces in these remote areas.

 

The success of these operations is not just a military victory but a significant political achievement for the BJP.

 

Amit Shah pointedly remarked on the contrast between the BJP and the previous Congress government's handling of Naxalism, criticising the Congress for its lack of cooperation with the Centre and its failure to address the Maoist threat.

 

“Within just 90 days of assuming power, we have killed 86 Maoists, arrested 126, and over 250 have surrendered,” Shah stated, highlighting the effectiveness of the BJP-led government’s policies.

 

Maoist Ideology: A Failed Insurgency 

 

The Maoist insurgency, which began with the Naxalbari uprising in 1967 in North Bengal, was initially a peasant-led insurgency seeking to redistribute land from wealthy landowners to the landless.

 

However, the insurgency, fueled by Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideologies, quickly turned into a violent terror insurgency, spreading across various regions of India, particularly in the eastern, central, and southern parts of the country.

 

At its peak, the Maoist insurgency posed a significant internal security threat, affecting over 200 districts across multiple states.

 

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once described the Maoist insurgency as “the single biggest internal-security challenge” facing the nation.

 

Despite efforts by previous governments to quell the insurgency, the insurgency persisted, with Maoists forming the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004, which became the principal Maoist organisation.

 

Today, under the Modi-led BJP government, the Maoist influence has been significantly reduced. Once spread across 108 districts, Maoist activity is now confined to just 60 districts across eight states, with Chhattisgarh being the epicentre of the insurgency.

 

The government's firm stance against Naxalism, combined with large-scale security operations, has dealt a severe blow to the insurgency.

 

 

The Maoist insurgency has left a long trail of violence in its wake. According to data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), between 2000 and 2024, a total of 4,515 Maoists have been killed across India, with 199 Maoists killed in 2024 alone. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 6,742 civilians and security personnel over the years.

 

One of the deadliest attacks in recent history occurred in April 2021, when 22 security personnel were killed in an encounter with Maoists in the South Bastar forests of Chhattisgarh.

 

The brutal attack, which took place along the border between Bijapur and Sukma districts, left 30 others injured and was a stark reminder of the threat Maoists continue to pose.

 

The Dantewada attack in April 2023, which claimed the lives of 10 DRG jawans, further demonstrated the Maoists' capacity for violence. Despite these losses, the government’s resolve to crush the insurgency has only grown stronger.

 

 

The BJP government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has made it clear that there will be no compromise in the fight against Naxalism.

 

The government’s no-holds-barred approach has been instrumental in weakening the Maoist stronghold in Chhattisgarh and other states.

 

With a clear mandate to eradicate Naxalism by 2026, the BJP is determined to restore peace and development in the regions that have long been under the shadow of Maoist violence.

 

The setting up of new security camps, the construction of critical infrastructure, and the launch of high-profile operations like Prahar are just some of the steps the government is taking to achieve this goal.

 

As the BJP continues to tighten its grip on the Maoist terrorism, the message is clear: the days of Maoist dominance are numbered.

 

The government’s efforts are not only bringing the perpetrators of violence to justice but also giving hope to the people of Maoist-affected regions that peace and prosperity are within reach.

 

In the words of Amit Shah, “We will not rest until every corner of India is free from the clutches of Naxalism.” The success of the recent operations is a testament to the BJP's unwavering commitment to this cause.