Maoist violence restricted to 11 districts, says government, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Union Home Ministry announced that districts affected by left-wing extremism have decreased from 18 to 11.
• The number of "most-affected" districts has reduced from six to three: Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh.
• In 2013, there were 126 affected districts, which reduced to 18 by April 2025 due to continuous operations.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah aims to completely eradicate Maoism from the country by March 31, 2026.
• In 2024, 312 Maoist cadres were killed, 836 arrested, and 1,639 surrendered.
• Senior CPI (Maoist) leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupati, and 60 other cadres surrendered in Maharashtra.

Detailed Insights:

• The National Action Plan and Policy employs a multi-pronged approach to diminish the influence of left-wing extremism.
• Over 100 forward-operating bases of security forces have been established since 2021, primarily in Chhattisgarh, to enhance security.
• Affected districts include Dantewada, Gariaband, Kanker, and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand, Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, and Kandhamal in Odisha.
• The policy involves intelligence-based operations, infrastructure development, welfare schemes, and enhanced state-center coordination.
• The Red Corridor, once envisioned by Naxals from Pashupati to Tirupati, has significantly shrunk due to sustained counter-insurgency efforts.
• The government focuses on targeting top leaders and overground workers, countering Maoist ideology, and choking their finances.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): Ideologies and movements that advocate for radical socio-political changes through revolutionary means.
• Naxalism: A form of radical communist insurgency primarily active in certain parts of India, characterized by armed struggle.
• Red Corridor: A term used to describe the area in eastern, central and southern India where Naxalite or Maoist insurgents are most active.