An incident that was sad happened on 6th of January 2025 at Bijapur Chhattisgarh where naxals installed an improvised explosive device (IED) which exploded and killed nine persons, Eight of them were the security personnel and one was a civilian driver. That attack happened on the Kutru Bedre road as the forces were coming back from anti-Naxal operation in the Abujhmad region.
This operation was specifically aimed at District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel for whom most of the attacked were the surrendered Naxalites mostly tribals of the district. The blast resulted in formation of a blown up hole on the road which completely obliterated the vehicle and the remains of the bodies were extent round the area. The attack is one of the worst the Maoists have carried out on security forces in the state in the recent past.
This operation that preceded the attack involved two DRG teams of Narayanpur, and Dantewada, one from Jagdalpur, one from Kondagaon and the STF. While so, five Maoists were gunned down and a DRG head constable martyred during this operation. The forces were conducting this operation and were on their way back when the IED was detonated.
The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Mr Vishnu Deo Sai criticized the Naxalite and said it is dastardly act done by the Naxalite, the martyred jawans will not lose their motive. The attack points to continuing problems faced by security forces in the Bastar region, regarded as a strong Naxal bastion.
The event has led to the mobilisation of security forces to look for the culprits in the region. Chhattisgarh’s deputy chief minister Arun Sao also termed the attack as barbarous but asserted that the process of eradicating Naxalism should continue.
This incident clearly depicts that Naxal insurgents remain a security threat to Chhattisgarh and hence calls for continued counter- insurgency operations to guarantee safety of the people in the region.
History of the Naxalism in India
Naxalism, or Left Wing Extremism, LWE, is a major internal security threat in the country. It has socio-economic and political reasons behind it and it originated in the village Naxalbari in West Bengal where peasant uprising against feudal lords occurred in 1967. This revolt initiated the Naxalite movement with Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal as the leaders.
Origins and Ideology
The Naxalite movement was an offshoot of Maoism which sought to build a People’s Democratic Republic through an armed struggle. The movement was first aimed at the problems of land and oppression of agricultural workers and indigenous peoples. Gradually, the ideology reached towns where the students and intellectual joined the movement.
Evolution and Spread
The Naxalite movement splintered into various factions, with the most prominent being the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) or CPI (ML). The movement spread to other states as they joined, which are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa and Telangana. These regions are also called the Red Corridor which has become the active zone of Naxalite operation.
Effects on Various Regions across India
The impact of Naxalism varies across different regions of India, with some areas experiencing more severe consequences than others. Here are some key regions:
- Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh is one of the worst affected states as Naxalite carry out attacks on security forces and innocent people. The state has suffered the violence and loss of lives in the hands of Naxalite militants. Impounding out that the Bastar region, especially, has been home to the Naxalites.
- Jharkhand: It also said that Jharkhand has been badly affected by Naxalism as the area has reported several incidents of hit-and-run strikes, blowing up of hospitals and attacks on security forces. The regional features which enshrine Naxalite are mainly the dense forests and areas inhabited mostly by the tribal.
- Odisha: Naxalite violence has also occasionally occurred in the read more seldom in Odisha’s southern and western parts. The primary and secondary level strategies that the state government has adopted to address the Naxal menace include both welfare cum development initiatives and police action.
- Bihar: Bihar also has extreme history of Naxalite activities starting from the days of the movement. It may be noted that the threat from Naxalites have recently reduced in the state, however, has not disappeared completely.
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: These stated have experienced heightened Naxalite activities; the phenomena began in the late twentieth century. The government has also started several policies to uproot the Naxalism and bringing change in the socio-economic status of the region.
Indian government has launched multipronged strategies to address Naxalism challenges such as “security force operations, development plans, and rehabilitation polices”. Smart Leadership, Aggressive Strategy, Motivation & Training, Actionable Intelligence, Dashboard-based KPI/ KRAs, Harnessing Technology to support Operations and Action plan for each Theatre which constitutes the SAMADHAN strategy has contributed to decrease the Naxalite violence.
However, Naxalism still exists as an enduring issue especially in poor and backward areas where there is high level of inequality. The government is still trying to solve the basic political problems which had led to Naxalism and also trying to provide protection to the affected people.
This social ailment has been expressive in different parts of the country though with magnitude variance that has seen some region’s worst affected more than others in terms of the impact. While having socio-economic and political undertones the movement remains a major factor of concern for internal security in the country. The government has tried to contain the Naxal menace through armed force, developmental and rehabilitation measures and to some extent it has succeeded but the problem exists. Attacking the disturbing factors leading to Naxalism and raising standard of living in those regions are key toward bringing lasting peace and order in India.
How the Government is working to Overcome Naxalism
Left Wing Extremism or LWE is an enduring internal security concern in India commonly referred to as Naxalism. The political leadership in India has done all it can, to formulate policies and measures aimed at eradicating the sources of Naxalism and reduce it adverse effects in the affected areas. Here are some key examples of how the government is working to overcome these challenges:
Security Operations
The state has committed Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other anti-Naxal force like the Greyhounds and Bastariya Battalion to fight Naxalite. These forces carry out routine operations to undertake counter insurgency measures against the Naxalite groups and to control and eliminate their support structures. For example there is the Greyhounds, an force from Andhra Pradesh that has significantly brought change on Naxalite violence.
Development Programs
Understanding that injustice social and economic status is one of the primary causes of Naxalism, the Indian government has developed many development projects for the enhancement of the standard of living in the affected area. The Road Connectivity project envisages improvement of road infrastructure in inaccessible areas and thus has a potential to open the access to basic services and economic opportunities for the inhabitants of these areas. Aspirational Districts Program is an initiative aimed at uplifting the minimum development in the most backward sectors through effective delivery of health, education and infrastructure. The ROSHNI Scheme funds women self-help groups to support livelihood programmes.
Rehabilitation Policies
The state has introduced surrender and rehabilitation policies to solve the problem of assimilation of former Naxalites. These programs provide money, skills, school, and work. The main idea of the utilization of demobilization is to supply former insurgents with better chance as an armed insurrection and assist them in reconstruction of their life.
Intelligence Strengthening
Intelligence gathering should be productive in order to combat Naxalism. It has setup Multi-Agency Centres (MACs) and used Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and effective inter-switch of intelligence. These measures allow security forces to be ready for any Naxalite action or prevent one.
Skill Development Programs
To overcome problem of joblessness in the Naxal affected areas, the government has started employing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). These programs give skills in different trades and enable people gain employment skills & knowledge. The government wants to counter Naxalism in the country, and therefore through creating employment opportunities for the youths, the idea becomes unpopular among the youths.
SAMADHAN Strategy
The seven-point plan of action namely Smart Leadership, Aggressive Strategy, Motivation and Training, Actionable Intelligence, Dashboard-based Key Performance Indicators and Key Result Areas, Harnessing Technology, and Action plan each has been called as SAMADHAN strategy to combat Naxalism. This strategy focuses which are leadership, intelligence, and technology in the fight against the Naxalite menace.
Community Engagement
Communication with local communities is crucial to establish credibility and minimise the population’s willingness to support Naxalite groups. Government has provided a number of community complaints schemes as a means of redressing the affected communities’ grievances and social /economic status. Such programmes include; health care, education, clean water and sanitation, responsible agriculture and management, and construction and infrastructure.
Environmental Protection
Naxalism affected places for its activity where resources, chiefly the forest and minerals, are abundant. Measures that have been taken by the government in order to conserve these resources and support economic development are as follows. The FRA is a legislation that had helped the tribal people to govern forests and protected resources and also gave legal status to these people. This assists in minimizing the occurrence of laid battles on tenure and type of resource that is used by the Naxalite.
Role of Force in Naxalism affected Areas
The Naxal problem in India is addressed by the armed forces that guarantee protection and safety to the areas. They play a four-fold role that cuts across security operation, intelligence collection, societal interactionism, and development initiatives.
Security Operations
The primary function of the armed forces in Naxal affected areas is primarily for containing Naxalite elements and eradicating their network. The central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) with CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and others are deployed in these areas. A few States have dedicated force structure required for anti-Naxal operations, for instance, is the Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh and the Bastariya Battalion in Chhattisgarh. These forces launch routine patrols, raids, and search-and-destroy operations to sap the Naxalite capability.
Intelligence Gathering
Intelligence is crucial for counter insurgency as it acts as the key to operations. The intelligence advisory provided by the armed forces involve collection of intelligence information on the movement, presence and intentions of Naxalite. Multi Agency Centres (MACs) provide the required interface for instantaneous information sharing between agencies. UAVs and satellite images improve surveillance, providing forces a way of observing Naxalite activity and quickly counter threats.
Community Engagement
Counter-Naxal operations require the support of local communities, therefore creating a positive perception is highly recommended. There is interaction between armed forces and the rebellious tribal and rural community demands to be met and addressed. It is a fact that in order to enhance the socio-economic status of these tribes, several ventures like medical camps, educational awareness, and infrastructural development works are floated.
Development Initiatives
The armed forces are also involved in implementing developmental projects in the affected part of Naxals. They offer safety to infrastructure development activities including road construction, electrification and water supply. All these projects are designed to bring in better connectivity and closer access to services.
Awareness creation and capacity building is mile base for a military strategy for mitigation of Naxalism affected regions. Confidential training sessions focus in improving competence of guards in respect to guerrilla warfare, counter-terrorism operations and intentions to survive in a tropical environment. And they too will train and support local police to enhance their capacity to deal effectively with Naxalite threats on their own.