India has taken a big leap forward in its mission to eradicate Naxalism, marking a significant achievement in the journey toward a safer and more prosperous nation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.

The number of districts severely impacted by Left-wing extremism and insurgency has been halved, dropping from 12 to just 6 — a testament to the unwavering commitment and strategic efforts of the government, he said, adding that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned, a powerful, protected, and progressive Bharat is steadily becoming a reality.

HM Shah on his X handle said, “Taking a giant stride towards building a Naxal-free Bharat, today our nation achieved a new milestone by significantly reducing the number of districts most affected by left-wing extremism to just 6 from 12. The Modi government is building a Sashakt (powerful), Surakshit (protected) and Samriddh (progressive) Bharat with a ruthless approach to Naxalism and relentless efforts for all-pervasive development. Bharat is determined to uproot Naxalism for good by 31st March 2026.”

HM Shah has set an ambitious target to eradicate Maoism in India by March 31, 2026. He has consistently appealed to Maoists to junk insurgency, lay down their arms and reintegrate into society. He has assured them of proper rehabilitation under government initiatives. The government has adopted a multi-pronged approach, combining decisive action against extremist elements with comprehensive development initiatives aimed at uplifting affected regions.

This dual strategy not only addresses the root causes of extremism but also fosters hope and opportunity for communities long plagued by violence and instability. The determination to eliminate Naxalism is not merely a political promise; it is a national resolve, HM Shah has said on occasions. With a clear deadline set for March 31, 2026, the government is mobilising resources, strengthening security forces, and enhancing infrastructure in vulnerable areas. Roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and employment opportunities are being prioritised to ensure that every citizen feels the impact of progress.

The Union Home Minister is also likely to be in Chhattisgarh on April 4 for a two-day visit. He will preside over a high-level meeting to evaluate the progress of ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the state, government sources said. Though no official statement has been issued in this regard, according to sources, HM Shah will also participate in the concluding ceremony of ‘Pandum Mahotsava’ in the Dantewada district of Bastar.

The Pandum Mahotsava, a festival of the Bastar tribal community, is a cultural event that is held in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. He will also perform Puja at the Danteshwari temple in Dantewada. However, the review meeting, if it takes place, is crucial for the state in achieving the target of making India Naxal-free by 2026, as targeted by the Union Home Minister. According to data from the Union Home Ministry, at least 130 Maoists have been neutralised in encounters in Chhattisgarh this year, with over 110 fatalities reported in the Bastar division, which encompasses seven districts, including Bijapur and Kanker.

Additionally, more than 105 Naxalites have been arrested, and 164 have surrendered in 2025. In 2024, security forces achieved remarkable milestones, eliminating 290 Naxalites, arresting 1,090, and facilitating the surrender of 881 individuals. Among those neutralised were 15 hard-core Naxalite leaders. Over the past decade, incidents of Naxalite violence have declined by 53 per cent, from 16,463 incidents between 2004 and 2014 to 7,744 between 2014 and 2024. Similarly, casualties among security forces have decreased by 73 per cent, from 1,851 to 509, while civilian casualties have dropped by 70 per cent, from 4,766 to 1,495.

These figures highlight the significant progress made in combating Naxalism and restoring peace in the affected regions. In recent weeks, security forces in Chhattisgarh have intensified their campaign against Naxalism. Numerous Naxalites have surrendered, while others have been neutralised in encounters. On Monday, a female Naxalite identified as Renuka, with a bounty of Rs 45 lakh, was eliminated. Over the past 15 months, eight prominent Naxalites, including Joganna, Karthik, Nidhi, Sagar, Sudhir alias Sudhakar, and Jagdish, have been neutralised. In 2025 alone, the bodies of 119 Naxalites were recovered following various encounters, dealing a significant blow to the Maoists.

–IANS

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The post Most Affected Naxalism Districts Down To 6, Says Home Minister Amit Shah appeared first on The Commune.

The year 2024 saw a significant decline in Maoist activities, with the central government setting a deadline to finish off Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have asked the officials and agencies responsible for tackling this menace to expedite the process. The Prime Minister wants LWE to be wiped out within the next 15 months. In October this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating LEW by 2026.

As the year draws to a close, the combination of intensified security operations, increased infrastructure development, and proactive social programmes signals that LWE is nearing its end in India.

Despite the ongoing challenges in regions like Bastar (Chhattisgarh) and the continued presence of key leaders, security forces, with the government’s support, are eliminating the menace of LWE.

Intelligence estimates suggest that approximately 3,000 Maoists are active, predominantly in Chhattisgarh. However, LWE’s grip on the country is steadily weakening.

This year, security forces made major breakthroughs in dismantling Maoist strongholds in the state of Chhattisgarh. Regions like Abujmarh, once an LWE-dominated pocket, now see many families returning to their homes. These families had left their homes due to threats by Maoists.

Several camps of security forces are now in these regions, instilling a sense of confidence among the locals. In one of the largest operations, the Border Security Force (BSF) eliminated 29 Maoists, including top Maoist leader Shankar Rao, in April.

In October, another major operation in Chhattisgarh resulted in the killing of 31 Maoists, with no casualties on the security forces’ side. The government’s efforts to curb Maoist violence have shown impressive results. LWE-affected districts dropped significantly from 126 in 2018 to just 38 in 2024.

Violence related to LWE has decreased by 73 per cent compared to 2010, with a remarkable 86 per cent drop in deaths. The reduction in LWE-related incidents continued in 2024, with a 25 percent decline from the previous year. The government also allocated Rs 4,350 crore from 2019 to 2024 to enhance security and infrastructure in LWE-affected areas.

This funding supported initiatives like constructing 14,469 km of roads, installing 6,567 telecom towers and opening 1,007 bank branches across the affected districts. Moreover, 46 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 178 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) have been set up to provide quality education and skill development for tribal youth, helping to divert them from the LWE influence.

–IANS

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The post Left-Wing Extremism Saw Significant Decline In 2024 As India Set Sights On Eradication By 2026 appeared first on The Commune.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting raids since Tuesday morning, at seven locations in West Bengal in connection with funding of Maoists or Left Wing Extremist (LWE) groups operating out of Chhattisgarh.

Sources said that raids are being conducted in Sodepur and Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas district and Asansol in West Burdwan district. Each team of the raiding NIA officials is escorted by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel. The main focus of the NIA sleuths, sources added, are self-proclaimed social workers Manabesh Chakraborty, Shipra Chakraborty and Sudipta Paul, who, the investigating officials believe, are “Urban Naxalites” involved in arranging funds for the LWE groups.

Also under the scanner of investigating officials is Avigyan Sarkar, a self-proclaimed research scholar and an alumnus of Kolkata’s iconic Jadavpur University. Sources said that the search operations since Tuesday morning are being conducted on the basis of specific clues that all four persons, though operating mainly from West Bengal, have a nexus with pan-India LWE organisations, especially those active in Chhattisgarh.

The investigating officials are trying to pinpoint the exact points-of-contact with the pan-India LWE groups. Sources said that the NIA has got information that besides arranging funds for the LWE groups, these four individuals are suspected of being involved in brainwashing educated youths to join the Maoist movements. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will completely eradicate LWE from the country by March 2026.

He also underlined the necessity to give more impetus to the campaign against LWE and emphasised that there is a need to work with twice the speed and intensity that was there at the beginning of the operations against Naxalism, to completely eradicate the menace from the country.

–IANS

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