In April 2010, a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel moved cautiously through the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. Suddenly, a deafening explosion tore through the silence, followed by a hail of bullets. Within hours, 76 security personnel lay dead in what became one of the deadliest Naxalite attacks in Indian history. The incident shook the nation beyond the table talks. The scale of the challenge posed by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) prompted a reassessment of India’s counter-insurgency strategy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week stated that the Narendra Modi government is pursuing a stringent crackdown on Naxalites, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against those who refuse to surrender despite the government’s offered rehabilitation measures. Shah affirmed that India is on track to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026. How realistic is this assessment? Only time can tell.
Over the decades, India has fought an intense battle against Naxalism, employing various military and strategic operations to curb the insurgency. Some efforts have yielded significant success, pushing Maoists into retreat, while others have exposed systemic flaws in the counterinsurgency framework.
Origins of the Naxal Conflict
The Naxalite movement traces its roots to the 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal, where peasants led by Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal took up arms against landlords. Influenced by Maoist ideology, the movement spread across India, particularly in tribal and forested regions where economic deprivation and state neglect fuelled resentment. By the early 2000s, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) emerged as the primary insurgent group, wielding influence across the so-called ‘Red Corridor’ spanning Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
Major Counter-Insurgency Operations
India’s fight against Naxalism has evolved significantly over the decades, shifting from reactive policing to well-coordinated military and intelligence operations. The government has launched several large-scale offensives to dismantle Maoist strongholds, employing a mix of force, intelligence, and governance to weaken the insurgency. While some operations delivered quick results, others exposed the resilience of the Maoist network, requiring continuous strategic adjustments.
Operation Green Hunt
One of the most ambitious counter-insurgency efforts was Operation Green Hunt, launched in 2009 as a coordinated offensive involving central and state security forces. With the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) at the forefront, this operation targeted Maoist strongholds across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Security forces moved deep into Maoist-controlled areas, attempting to dismantle insurgent camps, cut off supply chains, and eliminate key leaders. While Green Hunt achieved some early successes, it also exposed the severe intelligence gaps in India’s counter-Naxal operations. The 2010 Dantewada ambush, in which 76 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed, highlighted the ability of Maoists to adapt and strike back with deadly precision. Though Green Hunt weakened the insurgency in some regions, it ultimately fell short of delivering a decisive blow, necessitating a shift towards more intelligence-driven strategies in later years.
Greyhounds
A more effective approach emerged in Andhra Pradesh with the formation of the Greyhounds, an elite anti-Naxal commando force established in 1989. Unlike conventional security units, the Greyhounds were trained in deep-forest combat, night-time raids, and hit-and-run tactics, allowing them to engage Maoists on their own terms. Over the years, their operations forced Maoist leadership to flee Andhra Pradesh and relocate to neighbouring states. The Greyhounds’ success was not merely due to superior combat training but also a well-integrated intelligence network that allowed them to track insurgent movements and launch precision strikes. While other states attempted to replicate the Greyhounds’ model, varying levels of political commitment and operational efficiency meant that success remained inconsistent across the country.
Smart Actionable Measures for Area Domination and Holistic Action (SAMADHAN)
Recognising the need for a more structured approach, the Indian government launched Operation SAMADHAN in 2017, a comprehensive strategy that combined military action with development initiatives. SAMADHAN, an acronym for Smart Actionable Measures for Area Domination and Holistic Action, focused on weakening Maoist leadership through targeted strikes while simultaneously improving governance in affected regions. Security forces intensified their operations in core Maoist zones, while parallel efforts were made to build infrastructure, improve road connectivity, and integrate tribal communities into mainstream governance. The recruitment of local youth into the police and paramilitary forces played a key role in reducing Maoist influence. Between 2017 and 2023, official data suggested a nearly 40 per cent decline in Maoist violence, demonstrating the effectiveness of a combined military-developmental strategy. However, the Maoists adapted by shifting their operational zones, particularly along the Andhra-Odisha border, requiring security forces to maintain constant vigilance.
Bastar Offensive
In recent years, Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region has remained one of the last major Maoist strongholds, prompting an aggressive counter-offensive. Since 2020, security forces have expanded their presence by establishing permanent camps deep within Maoist-held areas. Unlike earlier operations that focused on short-term gains, this strategy sought to assert long-term dominance over key territories. The introduction of advanced surveillance tools, including drones and satellite intelligence, allowed security forces to carry out precise strikes, minimising casualties among personnel while maximising damage to insurgent networks. Additionally, targeted civic action programmes, such as the expansion of schools, healthcare centres, and employment initiatives, aimed to erode the Maoists’ ideological appeal among tribal populations.
The Diplomatic Route
Since 2014, the Indian government has expanded its counter-Naxal strategy beyond military operations by adopting diplomatic measures to disrupt the insurgents’ external networks and limit their support. One key initiative has been increased cooperation with neighbouring countries, particularly Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, to curb the cross-border movement of Maoist leaders and arms smuggling. Security agreements with Nepal led to heightened surveillance and the arrest of several Maoist operatives attempting to seek refuge there. Similarly, border security coordination with Bangladesh reduced the availability of weapons once smuggled through its territory.
India has also sought to disrupt Maoist funding sources, particularly from illicit activities such as extortion and illegal mining. The government engaged with international financial monitoring agencies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to track suspicious transactions linked to insurgents. This helped freeze assets and limit their financial capabilities.
India has leveraged strategic partnerships with international counter-insurgency experts, exchanging intelligence and best practices on tackling left-wing extremism. The government also intensified diplomatic pressure on organisations suspected of supporting Naxalite activities abroad, ensuring that Maoist factions found fewer safe havens internationally. These diplomatic efforts complemented India’s internal security measures, significantly weakening the insurgency’s operational strength.
Despite the successes of these operations, challenges persist. Maoists continue to employ guerrilla warfare tactics, ambush security convoys, and exploit local grievances to sustain their movement. However, the combination of intelligence-led military strikes, improved governance, and sustained pressure on insurgent networks has significantly reduced their influence. While the Naxalite insurgency is far from eradicated, India’s counter-insurgency strategy has evolved into a more effective and adaptive framework, positioning the state closer to achieving lasting stability in affected regions.
Lessons from India’s Anti-Naxal Campaigns
1. Intelligence is Paramount
Most successful operations have relied on superior intelligence gathering. The Greyhounds excelled due to deep infiltration networks within Maoist ranks. In contrast, intelligence lapses contributed to major setbacks, such as the Sukma ambush in 2017, where 25 CRPF jawans were killed.
2. Need for a Unified Approach
Counter-insurgency efforts often suffer from a lack of coordination between central and state forces. Maoists exploit jurisdictional conflicts, moving across state borders to evade security forces. A centralised command structure, similar to the Unified Command Model used in Kashmir, could improve efficiency.
3. Development Must Complement Military Action
Military operations alone cannot eradicate Naxalism. Addressing socio-economic grievances through education, healthcare, and employment is essential. Initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme, focusing on underdeveloped Naxal-affected areas, have shown promise in reducing insurgency recruitment.
4. Technology Can Shift the Balance
The increased use of drones, satellite imaging, and artificial intelligence in counter-insurgency operations has significantly improved security forces’ capabilities. For example, real-time surveillance has helped reduce casualties and enhance operational planning.
5. Winning Tribal Trust is Crucial
Many tribal communities initially supported Maoists due to historical exploitation and government neglect. Efforts such as community policing, self-help groups, and the inclusion of surrendered Naxals in rehabilitation schemes have helped bridge the trust gap.
Is the End of Naxalism Near?
Despite significant setbacks, the Naxal movement has not been completely eradicated. However, its influence has waned considerably. In 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported a 77% decline in LWE-related violence compared to 2010. The number of Maoist-affected districts has dropped from 223 in 2010 to 46 in 2024.
The next phase of counterinsurgency must focus on consolidation and rehabilitation. Strengthening governance, ensuring economic opportunities for affected communities, and addressing residual Maoist pockets through strategic security operations will be key.
India’s systematic approach to tackling Naxalism has brought the country to the brink of eliminating the decades-old insurgency by 2026, as per Home Minister Shah. He has outlined a four-pronged strategy, i.e., strengthened security operations, increased development initiatives, targeted action against financial networks, and efforts to bring extremists into the mainstream.
A combination of aggressive counterinsurgency measures and strategic developmental outreach has significantly weakened Naxalite strongholds. Improved road connectivity, infrastructure projects, and welfare schemes have eroded local support for insurgents, while sustained security operations have pushed them into retreat. Cutting off their funding channels has further crippled their ability to regroup.
With Naxal violence at its lowest in four decades and strong political resolve driving the final push, India is closer than ever to eradicating the threat. If current momentum continues, the nation could finally turn the page on left-wing extremism by March 2026, achieving lasting peace in affected regions.
With improved coordination, continued intelligence-driven operations, and sustained development efforts, India is closer than ever to neutralising the Naxal threat. However, the final victory will not be measured merely in terms of casualties or surrenders but in the integration of Naxal-affected regions into a peaceful, prosperous future.
