Bharat has been combatting Red Terror for several decades. Thousands of people have lost their lives. However, due to the strong commitment of the current Government to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026, red terrorism has been brought to its knees. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has played a crucial role in this effort. Against this backdrop, Prafulla Ketkar, Editor, Organiser, and Ravi Mishra, Assistant Editor, Organiser, spoke exclusively with Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force, to discuss the progress of anti-Naxal operations by CRPF. Excerpts:
The Government has announced its commitment to make Bharat Naxal-free by March 2026. CRPF is playing a leading role in this mission. As DG of the CRPF, how do you see the recent operations and their impact on achieving this goal?
CRPF has a mandate to maintain the internal security of our country. Be it Terrorism in Kashmir, sub-national separatist movements in the North East or the Naxal-Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Gadchiroli area in Maharashtra. Recent successful operations, especially in the LWE theatre consisting of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, have led to large-scale surrenders, arrests, and neutralisation of top Naxal leaders. In the first five months of this year alone, 500 Naxals have been arrested, 1,000 have surrendered and joined the mainstream, and another 250 have been killed. The strategy of establishing Forward Operating Base (FOBs), in the security vacuum areas has almost choked the naxal movement areas. Numerous successful operations have bolstered the troop confidence and encouraged locals to support security forces. Now, with the turning of tide, fish is out of the water. We have witnessed the success of security forces while tackling the top gun of Maoists for the first time. With the momentum and combined efforts of CRPF and State Police, a Naxal-free Bharat by March 2026 would be achieved. Notably, CRPF, especially through CoBRA battalions, has been pivotal in deep-penetration operations. The combination of CRPF/CoBRA with state forces has been a game changer in the LWE theatre, J&K, and NE.
There has been a significant shift in the operational tactics adopted by the CRPF. Could you elaborate on the specific tactical shift?
The most crucial factor leading to operational success is the unequivocal directions and unwavering support provided by the highest political leadership, particularly the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. In my three and a half decades of close association with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across all major conflict theatres, I have never witnessed such clarity of thought and direction emanating from the country’s political leadership. Also, there has been a significant shift towards intelligence-based operations, with increased reliance on technology-enabled surveillance, such as drones. Central agencies and State intelligence have been instrumental in providing us with high-quality intelligence inputs, enabling the successful anti-Maoist operation in the LWE theatres. Along with this, the adoption of guerilla-style tactics to counter guerrilla threats has been a key factor. Notably, adoption of various strategic formations in LWE operations, coupled with joint training between the CRPF CoBRA and State forces, has yielded substantial results.
“In my three and a half decades of close association with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, I have never witnessed such clarity of thought and direction emanating from the country’s political leadership”
Earlier too, similar efforts were made in the form of Operation Green Hunt. But later Maoists consolidated in the form of CPI (Maoist). How is Operation Black Forest different?
Operation Green Hunt was there in year 2009. It was large-scale combing operations with significant logistical footprint to clear Naxal areas, but that time the movement of SF was often predictable.
In Operation Black Forest (2025), there was a huge mobilisation of security forces for 21 days. For the first time, all the 10 CoBRA Bns of the Force participated in an operation. The significance of this operation was that it was led through the entire duration by senior most officers of the agencies in the field.
The other factors of Operation Black Forest are: Continuous 21 day operation, showcasing exceptional endurance of troops, multi agencies co-ordination (CRPF, CoBRA, DRG, STF, NTRO, BSF, etc.), non-stop utilisation of helicopters for casualty evacuation and logistics support to troops. precision engagement based on real-time intel. high mobility and deep-penetration patrols. long-duration jungle domination ops, targeted elimination of leadership and disruption of logistics/supply chains of Maoists, involvement of CoBRA, DRG, STF and other Central and State Agencies in Joint missions, dismantling the Naxal stronghold, huge recoveries increased the understanding of forces about the Maoists, meticulous planning and monitoring at Central, sector and district level, mammoth operation with zero fatality. This operation was unique in scale, duration, and outcome. It was completely a new experience for joint troops to take the enemy on hill top having more than 250 caves and fortified with bunkers. Earlier, the troops had successful operation in the core area of Maoists which was relatively flat terrain.
Inter-State and inter-agency coordination have been the critical issue in dealing with Maoists, especially in MMC region. How are you ensuring coordination in this operation?
Presently MMC (Maharashtra- Madhya Pradesh- Chhattisgarh) region is being utilised as harbouring area of the Maoists migrated from South Bastar, National Park and Maad area. The following four pronged strategy has been evolved and is being implemented:
a) Regular meetings between CRPF, State Police and intelligence agencies to recalibrate our operations
b) Common operational platforms, including grid-based response systems, especially in tri-junctions (e.g., Sukma-Bijapur- Narayanpur-Mulugu-Gadchiroli)
d) Use of shared databases & live tracking of operations
There are talks about ceasefire. Many mainstream political parties are giving a call for talks with Naxal leaders. How would you respond to the same as security personnel?
Talks and dialogue cannot compromise national security and gains made by security forces. Talks require surrender of arms. If Naxal formation come for talk after surrender of arms we will welcome them and assure them of their security. Past experience show that ceasefires were used by Naxals to regroup and re-strengthen, so we have to be very careful to ensure there is no repetition of this.
Do you think that the Government’s developmental initiatives have also helped to bring Naxals into mainstream?
Security operations and development go hand-in-hand. Roads, mobile towers, schools, and health centers have changed the ground reality. Infrastructure development has ensured that people are now on the side of government agencies and are openly opposing the exploitation by naxals. Civic Action Programmes by CRPF have built trust among tribals. Under this programme CRPF organises medical camps, open schools in village areas, distribute daily use items and organise sports tournaments for the tribal villages. Surrendered Naxals are being rehabilitated via vocational training and incentives and under the new surrender policy of Chhattisgarh State. Many of them have joined Security Forces.
Do you think that public sentiment, particularly among the poorer sections of society who are recruited by Naxals, has shifted away from Naxalism? Has this also contributed to the decline in Naxal recruitment and influence?
People now see Naxals as anti-development and their main exploiter. Youth prefer education and jobs over guns. Villagers realised that the real instigators are not in jungles but in urban area. These urban naxals live in luxury of cities enjoying all modern facilities and earning money by spreading propaganda. Regular interactions with villagers through Civic Action Programmes and community support projects have turned the tide away from Naxals.
From Charu Muzumdar to Keshava Rao, Maoist terrorism was always led by non-tribals and urban elites. These urban Naxals very much exist in our institutions and universities. What should be the strategy to deal with them?
Urban Naxals operate under the guise of intellectualism and activism. There are factors to rein in them like joint monitoring with NIA, IB, and state police, strengthening UAPA and related legal provisions to curb subversive activities of urban naxals, running awareness campaigns in educational institutions to counter such ideologies which intend to divide Bharat. I would like to inform you that we have identified their main leaders and we will not stopped until all of them are neutralised.
Which are the districts across the ‘red corridor’ where anti-Naxal operations are still going on and when would they be free from Naxals?
At present, active districts are Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur, Kanker (Chhattisgarh), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Chaibasa (Jharkhand) and parts of Odisha. These districts would be cleared by March 2026 through continuous, layered operations. This target would be achieved by us and is non-negotiable. Importantly, establishment of FOBs, mounting of operation from these FOBs, dismantling training camps of naxals and hideouts to keep them on toes and choking their supply lines.
Bharat is rising — economically, strategically, and globally. But the country from where Naxalism is funded and operated is eyeing on us. In this regard, a common question is: What is the guarantee that Naxalism won’t return in the future?
There are certain things which will not let them return, like constant vigilance against funding and ideological support from foreign entities and stronger internal security framework and enhanced surveillance. Informed and alert citizens will be our strongest shield. The action against Naxalism has to continue till the ideology is completely defeated and eradicated from the minds of people of the country.
With the Modi government completing 11 years, could you highlight the key initiatives taken during this period for the modernisation of CRPF.
Many good things have happened. CRPF has got modern techs like drones, night vision devices, latest communication systems, satellite phones, GPS, IED detection equipment. There is infrastructure boost. New camps, fortified police stations, and logistical support for SFs have been added. Now there is better housing for force personnel, education for families, and improved high end medical facilities for CRPF Jawans.
Just a personal question. What was the most challenging task in your career? And which was the task you feel you handled the best?
Leading the state of Assam from conflict to peace especially effectively subsiding the insurgencies of ULFA, Bodoland and Hill districts of Assam and effective handling of the Anti-CAA riots that started from Assam are successful milestones of the life in Assam. Leading the investigation into the anti-national activities of separatist leaders including the terror finance network in erstwhile state of J&K which resulted in conviction of Yasin Malik remains a high point of my career.
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