New Delhi: Bharat’s multidimensional counter to Red terror or Maoist or Naxal strategy, combining security enforcement, inclusive development, and community engagement has delivered significant success in recent years, leading to systematic weakening of the Maoist’s movement along drastic decline in violence, paving way for reintegration of many insurgency-affected districts into the mainstream, said the Union Government in an official statement issued.
The government is committed to completely eliminate Maoism by March 2026, since Naxalism is seen as the biggest obstacle in the development of remote areas and tribal villages, as it prevents education, healthcare, connectivity, banking, and postal services from reaching these villages, added the statement.
The statement further highlighted that the number of Maoist affected districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018, 70 in July 2021 and further to 38 in April-2024. Out of total Naxalism-affected districts, number of most affected districts has been reduced from 12 to 6, which include four districts from Chhattisgarh (Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma), one from Jharkhand (West Singhbhum), and one from Maharashtra (Gadchiroli).
Similarly, out of the total 38 affected districts, the number of Districts of Concern, where additional resources need to be intensively provided beyond the severely affected districts, has reduced from 9 to 6. These 6 districts are: Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju, Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat, Odisha’s Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Malkangiri and Telangana’s Bhadradri-Kothagudem.
Due to persistent action against Naxalism, number of Other LWE-affected Districts has also decreased from 17 to 6. These include Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, Gariaband, and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki districts, Jharkhand’s Latehar, Odisha’s Nuapada, and Telangana’s Mulugu district.
The statement further underscored that over 8,000 Naxalites have abandoned the path of violence, and consequently, the number of Naxal-affected districts has reduced to fewer than 20 in the last 10 years
It added that the Incidents of violence related to the Maoist insurgency which reached its highest level of 1936 in the year 2010 have reduced to 374 in 2024 i.e. a reduction of 81%. The total number of deaths (civilians + security forces) has also reduced by 85% during this period from 1005 deaths in 2010 to 150 in 2024.
The Union government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards Maoists and with 100 per cent implementation of government schemes; it seeks to fully develop the affected areas. The government had laid down two rules of law to fight Naxalism. First, to establish the rule of law in Naxalism-affected areas and completely stop illegal violent activities and to quickly compensate for the loss in those areas which were deprived of development due to the long Naxalite movement, noted the statement.
🔸 To address the #LWE menace holistically, a National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc
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— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 11, 2025
It added that to address the Maoist menace holistically, a National Policy and Action Plan was approved in the year 2015 which envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc.
Since 2019, to fill the security vacuum, 280 new camps have been established, 15 new Joint Task Forces have been created, and 6 CRPF battalions have been deployed to assist state police in various states. Along with this, an offensive strategy has been adopted by activating the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to choke the financing of Naxalites, which has resulted in a shortage of financial resources for them. Multiple long-duration operations were conducted, ensuring that the Naxalites are surrounded, leaving them with no opportunity to escape.
The statement further underscored that as part of zero-tolerance policy against Naxalism, 90 Naxals have been killed, 104 arrested and 164 have surrendered in the year, by March 2025. In 2024, 290 Naxalites were neutralized, 1,090 were arrested, and 881 surrendered.
As per the information shared by the honourable Home Minister, for the first time in 30 years, the number of casualties due to Maoist insurgency was below 100 in 2022, which is a significant achievement. From 2014 to 2024, there has been a substantial decline in Naxal-related incidents with 15 top Naxal leaders neutralised, and the government welfare schemes reaching the last man in the queue, reads the statement.
The government via the release further informed that while areas like Buddha Pahad and Chakarbandha of Jharkhand have been completely free from the grip of Naxalism, 85% of the cadre strength of Maoists in Chhattisgarh has been eliminated. It noted that since January 2024, a total of 237 Naxalites have been killed, 812 arrested, and 723 have surrendered in the state of Chhattisgarh.
The holistic approach of the government in dealing with the issue has contained the Maoist insurgency in only a span of around 4200 square kilometers, a much lesser area than the earlier 18,000 square kilometers once affected by the insurgency.
The statement added that between 2004 and 2014, there were a total of 16,463 incidents of Naxal violence. However, during 2014 to 2024, the number of violent incidents decreased by 53 per cent, dropping to 7,744. Similarly, the numbers of causalities of security forces have also decreased by 73 per cent, registering a fall from 1,851 to 509.
It further noted that the number of fortified police station has increased from 66 to 612 between the years 2014 to 2024 with over 300 security camps coming up in Maoist-infested areas in the last five years alone. The government has also established a total of 68 night landing helipads in these areas along increasing the budget allocation for development work by 300 per cent.
Bharat’s multi-pronged strategy against Red terrorism has significantly weakened the insurgency, both territorially and operationally. The government’s focus on a blend of security, development, and rights-based empowerment has transformed the landscape in previously affected areas. With sustained political will, administrative commitment, and people’s participation, the vision of a LWE-free India is closer than ever, noted the statement.
