*BJP Highlights Major Success in Chhattisgarh’s Fight Against Naxalism *85 per cent of the LWE cadre strength in Chhattisgarh has been eliminated and now the need is to deliver a final blow to Naxalism.- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
85 per cent of the LWE cadre strength in Chhattisgarh has been eliminated and now the need is to deliver a final blow to Naxalism.- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Raipur: The guerrilla doctrine summarized and promoted by Mao Zedong—“the enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy retreats, we pursue”—have hardly remains a challenge for the security forces in Chhattisgarh.
The Maoist camps had suffered setbacks after anti-Maoism operations have scaled-up under BJP regime.
Since the BJP came into power, state administration rolled out ambitious welfare schemes in past 10 months, since January 2024, a total 237 Naxals have been neutralized in anti-naxal operations, arrest of 812 Naxalities, 723 have surrendered and security forces have made continuous inroads, jobs are provide to surrendered Maoists.
“Our security forces are demonstrating remarkable bravery and we salute their courage,” said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. He said that 801 Naxalites have been arrested and 742 have surrendered within the same timeframe in a recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Chhattisgarh has raised its own Special Intelligence Branch, Special Task Force and District Reserve Guard (DRG) and around 40,000 central paramilitary forces deployed for anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. After December 2023, four Additional CRPF Batallion are inducted in Bastar by Central government.
On other side, in the various reports, Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist) has admitted that their base area has reduced, decline in fresh recruitment and desertions increased.
Hence, state government is devising strategies to counter the tactics employed by the Maoists.
Among one of Maoist’s strategy, they develops their base in accessible area of a target region and then run their operations. The recent anti-naxal operation of Nendur and Thulthuli villages of Dantewada and Narayanpur is an example of this ideology. The naxals established their base in these dense forests and deliberately chose to operate from difficult terrains- where the sun is visible in afternoon.
This success of anti-naxal operation substantiates the fact that such base areas – which are pockets of Maoists’s military capability and security vacuum are no longer their remote hideout.
Explaining the reason of Naxal’s presence in such regions of state, a senior police official said that as per their strategies, Naxals always choose a base in difficult terrains where they can secure themselves when government or state is gaining upper hand over Naxals.
Maoists tall claim of owing the capability to wage mobile war in their ‘base areas’ have proven hollow by such anti-naxal attacks. After Nendur-Thulthali attack some eastern parts of Chhattisgarh have not only shrunk Maoist’s presence but but also reduced in cadre strength. The Maoists are continuously suffering setbacks here.
Hence, pointing out the core ideology of Naxals, the security officials said that people in Bastar are being made aware that these rebels chose Chhattisgarh for their selfish motives and manipulated sentiments of locals and not for the welfare of the local residents.
Tracing back the history, experts said that Naxal moment gained momentum in Chhattisgarh when People’s War Group while continuing their activities in Andhra Pradesh expanded their activities into Chhattisgarh in the year 1980. Hence, they wanted the land here to continue their violent war and they have no concern with the common residents, who were devoid of mainstream development.
In a significant stride, as many as 22 new security camps have been established in the Bastar region in past 10 months, leading to significant advancements by security forces. This not only provides a security against Maoist attack but reduces distances within the region. The development of permanent camps in the base areas results in distortion of their Military formation into smaller units.
The Centre’s and state authorities’ Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy has yielded encouraging results. In this regard, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had handed over government appointment orders to 70 dependents of Naxal-affected families under Naxal Rehabilitation Policy. While Maoism propaganda mechanism like Chetanaya Nataya Manches are no longer centre of attraction for the village youth.
Reportedly, more cadres are leaving the extremists than joining. Over time, the youth had grown weary of the conflict and lost hope for any revolutionary results.
Chhattisgarh government is prioritizing the improvement and modernization of its security forces. This includes not only enhancing their communication systems and weaponry with advanced technology but also placing greater emphasis on tactical training and strategies. The goal is to ensure that security forces are better equipped and trained to handle challenges effectively.
In compliance with BJP’s vision to eradicate Naxalism from India till the year 2026, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that this momentum of the security operations and development work needs to be maintained. This approach will bring stability and irrelevant of Maoist leadership the security forces will remain strong and unaffected. Gradually Chhattisgarh is witnessing dawn of new era in which guerrilla base of the Maoist has shrunk, recruitment declined, surrenders increased and top leadership of People’s Liberations Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and relevant companies have weakened.
Union home minster Amit Shah had said new security camps would continue to be set up as scheduled and anti-Maoist operations intensified until the Maoists are wiped out.
Although unsettled by the recent arrests, they have resolved to accelerate their efforts in urban areas. One of their primary agendas is to organize a “united front” against the government.
The Maoists doctrines have mainly focus on ‘displacement’ of Tribals communities and exploitation of the labour and landless class in the rural areas. Hence, the primary goal of security forces in Bastar is to protect the residents of the remote forests of the East Bastar Division from Naxalite ideology and to dissuade them from Maoist principles. This effort aims to foster development and peace in the region. The police officials have urged the residents to realise the impact of being misguided and wrongly influenced by external ideologies and embracing the government’s surrender rehabilitation policy and renouncing weapons entirely.
After taking on the responsibilities of Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai made several quick and decisive welfare decisions, which had a far-reaching impact not only on the state but also on national politics. To eradicate the decades-old problem of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, he adopted the policy of “responding to words with words, and bullets with bullets,” taking effective steps.
Through these security camps, the ‘Niyad Nellanar’ scheme is being implemented to ensure the development of Bastar. Under this scheme, the villages within a five-kilometer radius of the security camps are being holistically developed, ensuring that citizens benefit from all the schemes of the central and state governments.
The BJP government has announced eradicating of Naxalism from India till the year 2026. In a recent address, Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined a multi-faceted approach that includes strengthening security forces, enhancing intelligence gathering, and improving coordination between state and central agencies. The government plans to establish more security camps in affected regions, particularly in states like Chhattisgarh, to disrupt Maoist operations and provide better support to local communities. Additionally, the government emphasizes the importance of development initiatives and rehabilitation programs for former Naxalites to encourage their reintegration into society. Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring peace and stability in Naxal-affected areas, stating that sustained efforts will ultimately lead to the dismantling of Maoist influence across the country.
