Naxal-Free India

In a historic anti-Naxal operation at Karreguttalu Hill on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, security forces eliminated 31 Naxalites in the largest such operation to date, marking a major step towards the government's goal of making India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.

What is Naxalism?

• Naxalism refers to the violent armed struggle led by communist extremist groups, inspired by Maoist ideology, to overthrow the Indian state through people’s war.
• It originated in 1967 from a peasant uprising in Naxalbari village in West Bengal — hence the name "Naxalism."
• These groups, often called Left-Wing Extremists (LWE), claim to represent the marginalized, especially tribals, Dalits, and landless peasants, and aim to establish a communist state through armed revolution.
• Factors Responsible for the Rise of Naxalism
  • Economic and Social Deprivation
  • Land and Forest Rights Issues
  • Weak Governance and Security Vacuum
  • Political Neglect and Corruption
  • Ideological Indoctrination
• Key Areas Affected: Naxalism is concentrated in the “Red Corridor”, spanning central and eastern India:
  • Chhattisgarh (especially Bastar, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur), Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra (Gadchiroli), Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal (Junglemahal area)
• At its peak, over 200 districts were considered Naxal-affected. By 2025, this has reduced to 18 districts.

Government's Initiatives to End Naxalism

• Security Measures
  • Joint Operations: Operation Prahar (2017), Operation Green Hunt, Operation Hill Vijay, Operation Samadhan-Prahar, and Operation Thunder
  • SAMADHAN Doctrine: It is a strategy combining Security, Development, and Confidence-building.
  • Establishment of Security Camps: In inaccessible areas.
  • Modernization of Police Forces: Better arms, communication, and intelligence.
• Developmental Interventions
  • Aspirational Districts Programme: Focused development in backward regions.
  • Infrastructure Projects: Roads, telecom, schools, health centers.
  • Skill Development & Employment: Particularly for tribal youth.
• Administrative & Legal Measures
  • Unified Command Structures for joint planning.
  • National Policy and Action Plan (2015) to combat LWE holistically.
  • Creation of Fortified Police Stations and Night-landing helipads.