On the frontline, Bastar's own (GUERRILLA VS GUERRILLA: At the heart of Battleground Bastar, where the endgame in the Maoist movement is likely to play out, are the District Reserve Guards, a force drawn from the local tribal population to take o..., Pg24

Key Highlights:

• The District Reserve Guard (DRG), composed of local tribal populations and former Naxals, is playing a crucial role in combating Maoists in Bastar.
• Maoist casualties have surged by over 400% in the last two years in Chhattisgarh, with about 250 Maoists killed annually.
• Naxal violence against civilians and security forces has decreased, with 56 civilians and 21 jawans killed in the past two years.
• The DRG is credited with over 90% of Maoist killings and 70% of arrests in Chhattisgarh.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a deadline of March 31, 2026, for "eliminating" Naxalism.

Detailed Insights:

• The DRG was established in 2014-2015 to leverage local knowledge of the terrain, addressing the security vacuum created by outsiders' unfamiliarity with Bastar's landscape.
• The DRG's success is attributed to proactive, intelligence-driven operations, enabling security forces to confidently navigate dense forests and hilly areas.
• Former Maoists-turned-DRG personnel provide crucial intelligence, including insights into Maoist strategies such as retreating when facing strong opposition.
• The DRG's strategy involves cordoning off areas to prevent Maoist retreats, leading to successful encounters like the killing of Maoist general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao.
• The rise of DRG and Bastar Fighters has changed the tide, but 82 DRG personnel have lost their lives, and 32 relatives have been murdered by Maoists.

Key Concepts Involved:

• District Reserve Guard (DRG): A specialized armed force in Chhattisgarh, India, composed primarily of local tribal individuals, created to counter Naxalism.
• Naxalism: A form of radical communist insurgency, primarily active in rural areas of India, characterized by armed struggle and Maoist ideology.
• Salwa Judum: A controversial anti-insurgency movement in Chhattisgarh, India, that armed local tribals to combat Naxalites, later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.