How Madhya Pradesh got 'the last of its Maoists': Tracking the one-year push, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Madhya Pradesh declared itself Maoist-free on December 11, 2025, after intensified anti-Maoist operations in Balaghat, Mandla, and Dindori districts.
• Operations targeted Maoist finances, specifically the tendu leaves extortion economy, reducing collections from approximately ₹3 crore to less than ₹11 lakh.
• Security forces employed drones and UAVs with heat sensors to track Maoist movements in dense forested regions due to the Maoists' avoidance of mobile phones.
• A key turning point was the surrender of Sunita on November 1, 2025, which provided intelligence leading to the capture of commander Ramdher in Chhattisgarh.

Detailed Insights:

• Maoist cadres initially sought refuge in Madhya Pradesh from crackdowns in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, acquiring arms and attracting dreaded commanders.
• Security agencies focused on strengthening intelligence gathering by questioning surrendered Maoists and mapping the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) network in Madhya Pradesh.
• Digitization of payments to tendu contractors through Jan-Dhan accounts with e-KYC and geo-tagging of tendu patta movements disrupted Maoist revenue streams.
• Government initiatives ensured road construction in former Maoist strongholds, countering the Maoist narrative and fostering public rejection of extortion.
• Security forces engaged with villagers through meetings and oath-taking ceremonies, breaking the Maoist claim of being protectors of tribal communities.
• The final operation involved approximately 1,200 personnel over nine days, culminating in the surrender of the last two Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh.
• The government plans to implement micro-development plans in villages formerly affected by Maoist activities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): Ideologies and movements that seek socio-political change through revolutionary means, often involving violence.
• Tendu Patta: Leaves used for rolling bidis, a significant source of revenue for Maoists through extortion in certain regions.
• Jan-Dhan Account: A national mission for financial inclusion to provide access to financial services like banking, remittance, insurance and pension.