India’s ongoing battle against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), security forces recently eliminated three Naxalites, including a woman, during an encounter near the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border in the Abuzmad area. This encounter marks a critical moment in India’s internal security landscape, pushing the total number of Maoist fatalities in 2024 to 157—the highest in the last 15 years. The incident has drawn renewed focus on the government’s intensified crackdown on the Naxalite insurgency, a decades-long conflict affecting vast regions of central and eastern India.
The encounter took place in a dense forested area near the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border, where joint security forces comprising personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police launched an anti-Naxal operation. The forces successfully neutralized three Naxalites, including Rupesh, a top commander and a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). Rupesh had been leading Maoist Company No. 10, a notorious group that operated in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. He had a bounty of ₹25 lakh (approximately $30,000) on his head, highlighting his importance within the Maoist hierarchy.
Rupesh’s death represents a significant blow to the Maoist leadership structure in the region. Another high-ranking insurgent, Jagdish, a divisional committee member from Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, was also among the key figures targeted in recent operations. Jagdish, with a ₹16 lakh ($20,000) reward on his head, played a crucial role in organizing attacks against Indian security forces. Weapons recovered from the encounter site, including an AK-47, an SLR, an INSAS rifle, and a 12-bore gun, further signify the operational capability of the group.
2024: A Turning Point in Anti-Naxal Operations
This year has been pivotal for India’s anti-Naxal strategy. The elimination of 157 Maoists marks the highest casualty figure in over a decade and reflects the government’s renewed resolve to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism. In addition to the Maoist fatalities, authorities have arrested approximately 663 Naxalites, while 656 have surrendered to the state this year, underscoring the widespread impact of the government’s efforts.
The BJP-led central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has ramped up its focus on countering Naxalism, particularly after regaining power in the Naxalite-affected state of Chhattisgarh in the 2023 state elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, announced a bold and ambitious goal to “totally eliminate Left-Wing Extremism and Naxalism from the country in two years.” Shah’s declaration has set in motion a series of intensified operations, with a clear roadmap aimed at resolving the Maoist insurgency by March 2026.
In pursuit of this objective, the CRPF has deployed four additional battalions, comprising over 4,000 personnel, to Bastar, Chhattisgarh—one of the worst-affected areas. This deployment is part of a broader strategy to target Maoist strongholds and disrupt their operations through coordinated security measures and intelligence-driven raids.
Naxalite Insurgency
The Naxalite insurgency, also known as the Maoist insurgency, has been a persistent internal security threat for India since its inception in 1967. The movement originated in Naxalbari, West Bengal, where disillusioned farmers and landless laborers, inspired by communist ideologies, launched an armed rebellion against feudal landlords and the Indian state. The insurgents, who drew heavily on the teachings of Chinese leader Mao Zedong, aimed to establish a “people’s government” through violent struggle.
Over the decades, the movement expanded across the “Red Corridor,” a region spanning parts of central, eastern, and southern India, with deep roots in marginalized tribal and rural communities. Naxalites have exploited the grievances of these communities—poverty, social inequality, and government neglect—to sustain their armed struggle. The Maoist leadership has drawn inspiration from China’s revolutionary tactics, and reports suggest that some factions have received external support, including training in guerrilla warfare.
Despite India’s robust democratic institutions, the Naxalite insurgency has proven resilient, largely due to its deep entrenchment in regions with a history of economic and political marginalization. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified nine states—Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal—where Naxalism is most prevalent. However, the geographical spread of Maoist violence has shrunk significantly in recent years, from 126 districts in 10 states in 2013 to just 38 districts in 2024.
Chhattisgarh: Epicenter of Maoist Violence
Chhattisgarh remains the most severely affected state by Naxalite violence, with 15 of its 33 districts currently grappling with insurgent activities. These include Bijapur, Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma, and Narayanpur, among others. The dense forests and difficult terrain of the region provide natural cover for Maoist operations, making it challenging for security forces to penetrate and dismantle the insurgency.
Bastar, in particular, has long been a Maoist stronghold, where government infrastructure is often sparse, and development initiatives have struggled to gain traction. In response, the government has initiated various security and developmental measures, combining military offensives with efforts to improve governance and basic services in the region.
The government’s approach to tackling Naxalism has long been the subject of debate, particularly concerning the balance between military action and socio-economic development. While the insurgency is undeniably a security threat, experts argue that its roots lie in deep-seated social and economic issues that require more than just military solutions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a press conference following a 2024 review meeting on Left-Wing Extremism, emphasized this dual approach. “The fight against Naxalism is not just a fight of ideology but also of areas which are lagging behind due to lack of development,” Shah stated. This recognition of the socio-economic factors driving the insurgency is critical, as many individuals, particularly in impoverished tribal regions, remain vulnerable to recruitment by Naxalite forces. The insurgents exploit this vulnerability by offering weapons, financial incentives, and promises of empowerment to the disenfranchised.
The Bandyopadhyay Committee, established in 2006, identified poor governance, economic disparities, and socio-political discrimination against tribal communities as key drivers of Naxalism. The committee’s recommendations included tribal-friendly land acquisition policies and improved rehabilitation efforts for displaced communities.
Naxalite-Affected Areas
Mining activities in Naxal-affected areas have long been a flashpoint for conflict. Many regions rich in natural resources, including iron ore, are also hotbeds of Maoist insurgency. Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, for example, has been a focal point of both Naxalite violence and mineral exploration efforts. The discovery of high-quality iron ore in Surajgarh, Gadchiroli, dates back to the 1960s, but extraction was delayed for decades due to the influence of Naxalism.
Protests against mining activities have been violent at times, with Naxalites attacking infrastructure and personnel associated with mining projects. The killing of Jaspal Singh Dhillon, a senior manager at Lloyds Metals, and the arson of mining facilities exemplify the high stakes involved. Naxalites view mining companies as exploitative entities that infringe on the rights and resources of local tribal communities, while the government promotes mining as a tool for economic development.
The state government, in a bid to quell local dissent, has projected that new mining projects will create jobs for 80% of the local population. However, many locals remain unconvinced, demanding essential services such as healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihoods, rather than relying on potentially exploitative industries.
As India intensifies its efforts to eradicate the Maoist insurgency, the path forward presents numerous challenges. On one hand, the military and police operations have significantly weakened the operational capacity of Maoist groups, with the geographical spread of violence steadily shrinking. On the other hand, the socio-economic grievances that gave rise to the insurgency remain unresolved for many communities in the Red Corridor.
Addressing these root causes—poverty, lack of education, inadequate healthcare, and poor infrastructure—will be crucial for ensuring long-term peace and stability in the affected regions. Moreover, development projects must be implemented in a way that respects the rights and concerns of local communities, particularly tribal populations, whose land and resources have often been at the heart of the conflict.
The elimination of key Maoist leaders like Rupesh and Jagdish is a significant achievement for Indian security forces, the battle against Left-Wing Extremism is far from over. A balanced approach that combines strong security measures with genuine efforts to address socio-economic disparities will be essential in achieving lasting peace and ending the Naxalite insurgency. As 2024 draws to a close, India’s government remains steadfast in its mission to root out Naxalism, but the ultimate success of this endeavor will depend on both bullets and bread.
