Naxalism

Posted 17 Jun 2025

Updated 27 Jun 2025

4 min read

Why in the news?

Recently, security forces conducted the largest ever anti-Naxal operation at Karreguttalu Hill on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

Naxalism in India

Background: Naxalism or Left Wing Extremism (LWE) originated from the Naxalbari movement of 1967 in West Bengal.
Ideology: Rooted in socio-economic inequalities and driven by Maoist principles, Naxalism has historically impacted some of the most remote, underdeveloped, and tribal-dominated regions of the country.
Aim: The movement aims to undermine the Indian state through armed rebellion and parallel governance structures, particularly targeting security forces, public infrastructure, and democratic institutions.
India's Red Corridor: It refers to Naxalism affected states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Modus Operandi: It includes armed violence, extortion, destruction of infrastructure, and recruitment of children and civilians.

Reasons for the decline of Naxalism

India's multi-pronged counter LWE strategy combining security, development, and community outreach has significantly reduced Naxal activity. Specific factors contributing to this decline include:

Strengthened Security Architecture:
- SAMADHAN doctrine: It encompasses the entire strategy for security operations, ranging from short-term policy to long-term policy formulated at different levels.
- This includes providing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), sanctioning India Reserve (IR) battalions, and supporting the modernization and upgradation of State Police forces for State Governments
- Security Related Expenditure Scheme: A Ministry of Home Affairs scheme aimed at capacity building of State Governments by reimbursing security-related costs, including training, operational needs, ex-gratia payments, and more.
- Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS): Provides funds for strengthening State Intelligence Branches, Special Forces, District Police, and Fortified Police Stations.
- Intelligence and Operations: Real time multi-agency intelligence enabling precise operations.
- Financial Crackdown: Target funding sources through Prevention of Money Laundering Act enforcement and fund seizures.
Development Interventions:
- Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most affected districts to fill critical infrastructure and service gaps.
- Financial Inclusion efforts including opening bank branches, ATMs, and post offices, and operationalizing Banking Correspondents.
- Skill Development and Education initiatives like establishing ITIs, Skill Development Centres, and Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
- Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan for providing personal amenities and benefitting the local population.
- Focus on strengthening Road connectivity, Mobile connectivity, and Financial connectivity (3-C).
Community Engagement and Perception Management:
- Civic Action Programme (CAP) humanize security forces and build rapport between them and local people.
- Media Plan to counter Maoist propaganda, increase youth aspirations, and make them aware of development and opportunities.
Assistance Schemes: Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/LWE Violence (CSACV) provides financial assistance to affected civilians.

Persistent Challenges to Eliminating Naxalism

Violent Ideology: The core challenge is the Maoist ideology which glorifies violence and aims to overthrow the democratic state structure.
Front Organizations and External Alliances: These exploit legal systems, recruit cadres, raise funds, and align with other insurgent groups, sometimes with external support.
Difficult Terrain: Remote, tribal regions like Karreguttalu Hill feature harsh geography and climate, complicating security operations.
Trust Deficit: Cultural differences and perceptions reduce local trust in security and administration, limiting the impact of welfare measures.

Way Forward

Addressing Trust Deficit: Enhance local participation in administration to bridge trust gaps.
- Ensure tribal-friendly land acquisition and rehabilitation policies to counter the spread of naxalism (Bandyopadhyay Committee).
- Policy measures that provide indirect benefits should be implemented with due care. For instance, Forest Rights Act, 2006, should be carefully implemented to empower local communities over Minor Forest Produce.
Countering Ideological appeal: Uphold and promote the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution as a countermeasure to violent Maoist ideology.
Security and Capacity building: Prioritize modernization of local police forces and utilize small, intelligence-driven units, exemplified by the Greyhounds, to improve operational effectiveness.
Centre-state coordination: Strengthen synchronized efforts with clearly defined roles to effectively combat radicalization and facilitate comprehensive development in affected regions.