The Ongoing Battle Against Naxalism in India: A War Nearing Its End?
The Ongoing Battle Against Naxalism in India: A War Nearing Its End?
India’s long-drawn struggle against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), commonly known as Naxalism, appears to be nearing a significant turning point. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly emphasized the central government’s resolve to make India completely free from the Naxal threat by March 2026. This commitment underlines the seriousness with which the government is approaching what has been one of the most persistent internal security challenges since independence. Naxalism, which once engulfed vast swathes of rural India, is now retreating, yet the battle is not entirely over.
Historical Roots and Ideological Foundations
Naxalism traces its origins to 1967 in the small village of Naxalbari in West Bengal. What began as a localized agrarian uprising soon transformed into a larger political movement based on Maoist ideology. The central premise of the movement was revolutionary violence, with the ultimate aim of overthrowing the existing political system. Influenced by the teachings of Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, the Naxals believed that armed struggle was the only path to justice for the marginalized.
Over time, their strategy involved mobilizing tribal populations and rural poor, especially in forested and hilly areas, where state presence was weak. They argued that successive Indian governments had failed to address the socio-economic inequalities and land injustices, and thus, taking up arms was portrayed as a legitimate form of resistance. However, this ideology led to decades of bloodshed, lawlessness, and extreme hardship for innocent villagers caught in the crossfire.
Human and Developmental Costs
The toll of this insurgency has been staggering. Over the past 35 years, more than 40,000 people — including civilians, security forces, and extremists — have lost their lives due to Naxal-related violence. Most of the victims have come from the tribal and rural communities that Naxals claimed to protect. Ironically, these very communities were deprived of basic services like health care, education, roads, and electricity, as the regions remained conflict zones with minimal governance.
The psychological trauma, forced displacement, extortion, and the disruption of normal life have set these regions back by decades in terms of development. The fear of violence discouraged investment, stalled infrastructure projects, and even hampered the implementation of welfare schemes. It became evident that Naxalism was not just a law and order problem but a deeper socio-economic issue rooted in neglect and injustice.
Factors Behind the Persistence of LWE
One cannot examine the endurance of Naxalism without analyzing the enabling conditions. Among the most significant is the historical displacement of tribal communities due to developmental projects, such as mining and dam construction, often carried out without proper rehabilitation. The Forest Conservation Act of 1980, while well-intentioned, restricted access of forest-dwelling communities to traditional livelihoods, further alienating them.
Rampant poverty, lack of education, and inadequate infrastructure made it easier for extremist groups to recruit disgruntled youth. Promises of dignity, weapons, and basic necessities drew many into their fold. Moreover, the absence of state infrastructure in interior areas created a governance vacuum, which was quickly filled by parallel systems run by Naxals through extortion and intimidation.
The Red Corridor: Regions Still Affected
Despite significant success in containing Naxalism, it continues to persist in what is commonly referred to as the "Red Corridor" — a stretch of territory extending across multiple states. Chhattisgarh remains the most affected, followed by Jharkhand, Odisha, and parts of Bihar. Smaller pockets of Naxalite activity have also been reported in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, too, have witnessed sporadic incidents. These regions, often rich in natural resources but poor in human development indices, became fertile grounds for insurgent ideology.
Government's Multi-Dimensional Counterstrategy
Recognizing that brute force alone would not defeat Naxalism, the Indian government adopted a multi-pronged strategy. The National Policy and Action Plan on Left Wing Extremism, launched in 2015, marked a major shift. It aimed at simultaneously ensuring security, promoting development, and protecting tribal rights.
A key initiative under this policy is the SAMADHAN doctrine — an integrated response to tackle LWE:
- S: Smart Leadership to ensure local-level accountability.
- A: Aggressive Strategy combining force and negotiation.
- M: Motivation and Training for security personnel.
- A: Actionable Intelligence to preempt attacks.
- D: Dashboard for performance monitoring.
- H: Harnessing Technology like drones and satellite surveillance.
- A: Action Plan for coordination across agencies.
- N: No Access to Financing by choking illegal funding sources.
Military and Paramilitary Interventions
Besides policy reforms, operations on the ground have been critical. Operation Green Hunt, launched in the early 2010s, was one of the most comprehensive counter-insurgency efforts aimed at flushing out Naxals from strongholds. Specialized units like the Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh — elite forces trained for jungle warfare — have played a pivotal role in this fight.
The government also raised the Bastariya Battalion, composed of local tribal youth from Chhattisgarh. Their familiarity with the terrain and dialects gave them a distinct operational advantage over traditional forces. These initiatives also aimed to create employment opportunities for local youth, thereby reducing the allure of Naxal recruitment.
Development as a Tool of Peace
With declining violence, the government's focus has gradually shifted towards long-term peacebuilding and development. Special Central Assistance (SCA) schemes have been launched to build roads, bridges, schools, and health centers in affected areas. Additionally, efforts have been made to extend digital connectivity and banking services, enabling better integration of these regions with the mainstream economy.
Housing projects under schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission, and clean drinking water through Jal Jeevan Mission are being implemented in the former conflict zones with renewed urgency. Educational institutions, including residential schools for tribal children, have also begun to dot the landscape once dominated by fear.
Humanizing the Victims and Rewriting the Narrative
In an important cultural and emotional initiative, a book titled Lio Oyana was recently launched, documenting the stories of those affected by Naxalite violence. These real-life accounts aim to preserve the memory of the lives lost and disrupted by the conflict. By doing so, it also shifts the narrative from glorifying armed struggle to highlighting the needless suffering it has caused.
Additionally, the Bandopadhyay Committee Report (2006) had earlier emphasized the need for tribal-sensitive policies — recommending land acquisition processes that are transparent, inclusive, and rehabilitative. Many of these ideas are now being slowly incorporated into state policy.
Conclusion: Toward a Naxal-Free India
As India approaches its declared goal of eliminating Left-Wing Extremism by March 2026, optimism is visible but tempered with caution. The reduction in Naxal-affected districts, improved intelligence coordination, and the rising trust of tribal communities in the administration reflect the progress made. Yet, complete eradication will depend not just on security operations but on sustained development, inclusive governance, and respect for tribal identity and autonomy.
The path forward must integrate lessons from the past — that lasting peace cannot be won by arms alone, but by addressing the core grievances that fueled the insurgency. If implemented earnestly, this comprehensive approach may finally end one of India’s longest internal conflicts, ushering in a new era of stability and justice for some of its most neglected citizens.