India primes for endgame in fight against Maoists

A series of successful operations by the security forces against the Maoists and a spate of surrenders during the last few months have dealt a severe blow to the insurgent movement which had turned into a serious security threat over the past several decades. While Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI (Maoist), was killed along with 26 others on May 21 in the dense forests near Boter village in Abujmarh in Chhattisgarh, Sudhakar alias Gautam – a prominent member of the outfit’s Central Committee – was killed on June 5 in Bijapur. Earlier, 31 Maoists were killed in Karregutta Hills straddling the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border in the three weeks-long Black Forest operation which concluded on May 11.

The security forces – Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), an elite commando outfit of CRPF, the Bastariya Battalion, also of CRPF, the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Bastar Fighter Force (BFF) of Chhattisgarh Police, the Chhattisgarh Armed Police (CAP), and the Chhattisgarh Police – had over the years suffered serious setbacks largely due to the distinct advantage the Maoists enjoyed in the region.

Popular support gained by the Maoists through threats or persuasion, their deep knowledge of the terrain, inaccessible forests that served as a safe sanctuary, and operational hurdles faced by the forces worked to the advantage of the Maoists who inflicted heavy casualties on the security personnel from time to time. The Maoists have opposed development in the region – the poverty of the villagers has helped the insurgents subjugate them and propagate their ideology of mass revolution. The absence of paved roads forced the security forces to cover long distances on foot. Taking advantage of their exhaustion, the Maoists have executed deadly attacks on the personnel on their way back to their bases.

Contractors and workers who dared to venture into the construction of roads were threatened and some were killed. Attempts to provide security to the workers were foiled when the Maoists ambushed security patrols. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) took up the challenge under the CRPF’s protection and began work. After BRO left, civil contractors took up the task under the supervision of CRPF personnel and connected villages with several kilometres of roads. The efforts are still on.

The laying of roads has made most villages easily accessible to the security forces, so much so that Abujmarh, an area covering nearly 4,000 sq km and considered impenetrable, is now largely under the occupation of the CRPF. With nearly 200 Forward Operating Bases (FOB) established in the area, the bastion of the Maoists has fallen in the face of aggressive and incessant operations launched by the security forces.

Recently, 86 Maoists disillusioned by their ideology surrendered before Kothagudem Police, and another 11 surrendered before Alluri Sitaram Raju Police. Since nine of the 16 Maoists who laid down their arms before the CRPF on June 2 in Sukma hailed from Karlapenda, the village was declared Maoist-free and earned a reward of Rs 1 crore for its development. While 928 Maoists surrendered last year, 718 surrendered before the authorities till May 31 this year which includes 571 from the Bastar division. The spate of surrenders continues largely due to the threat of death in encounters and disaffection among the Maoist ranks.

Vigil must continue

The deaths of top leaders such as Raji Reddy, Hargopal, Renuka, Jagdeesh, Basavaraju, and Sudhakar – due to ailments or in encounters – have crushed the leadership. Nearly 180 Maoists have been killed till May this year as against 280 last year. Left rudderless, many have chosen to surrender. The rehabilitation policy initiated by the Chhattisgarh government is bound to draw more Maoists to the mainstream.

Kerala and Karnataka have declared themselves Maoist-free; the latter is considering the conversion of its Anti-Naxal Force into an Anti-Communal Force to suppress communal disturbances. It may not be prudent to disband this well-trained force.

While the intelligence setup should maintain constant surveillance, the security forces need to guard against casualties by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). There were 43 incidents of IED blasts in 2024 and over 30 incidents till May this year. This method facilitates easy escape after inflicting casualties on the forces. In the Karregutta Hills, the Maoists had planted over 400 IEDs and six personnel including a CoBRA Assistant Commandant suffered injuries when they stepped on the pressure mines. The officer’s leg had to be amputated.

The looting of 4,000 kg of explosives by Maoists from a truck in the Sundargarh district of Odisha, close to the Serenda forests in Jharkhand, on May 27, portends a grave situation. While some of it has been recovered by the CoBRA personnel, a fair quantity remains with the Maoists. All-out efforts need to be made to recover the remaining explosives.

Though the Maoists are pleading for ceasefire and peace talks, the government has done well to ignore these calls as they could be a strategy to recruit, regroup and replenish their armoury. That they had killed three Greyhound commandos in the Mulugu district of Telangana on May 8 cannot be overlooked.

In the interest of national security, the pressure on the Maoists must be maintained till the movement is entirely wiped out, well ahead of the deadline of March 31 2026 set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

(The writer is a retired Inspector General of Police, CRPF)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.