The Maoists, once at the forefront of Kerala’s radical anti-national movements, are now fading from the state. Unable to withstand the initiatives begun by the Modi government, including the push for a Maoist-free India, aiming to eliminate maoist insurgency by March 31, 2026, and the social environment where expanding cities encircle villages, the last remaining activists have retreated into the forests.
For nearly 15 years, the ultra-radical CPI (Maoist) tried to establish a foothold in Kerala while retaining autonomous districts in other states. In Kerala, the first signs of Maoist activity were reported in the Western Ghats in 2012. Armed groups soon arrived in Aralam and Pulingom in Kannur district, and in the forests of Tholpatti, Brahmagiri, and Thirunelli in Wayanad district. Yet the state government paid little attention. The first major incident came on October 27, 2013, when Maoists launched an attack in Churanimalai, Vilangad in Kozhikode district.
Maoist network crumbles amid weakening public support and ideological collapse
The People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the party under the Central Military Commission, began operating in Kerala by setting up six area committees under the Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee, which extended from Goa to Idukki district in Kerala. These included Kabani Dalam in the Kannur-Wayanad-Karnataka forest border; Banasura Dalam in the Kozhikode-Wayanad border; Nadukani Dalam in the Nilambur-Nilgiris belt; Siruvani Dalam in the Attappadi-Agali region; Bhavani Dalam along the Palakkad-Coimbatore stretch; and Varahini Dalam at the Kerala-Karnataka-Tamil Nadu tri-junction in Wayanad.
They killed 27 dreaded Naxalites, including Central Committee Secretary Basavaraju.
India is coming closer to being Naxal free thanks to the bravery of these warriors.
Josh is at an all time high. 🫡🫡🫡 pic.twitter.com/RL8iXetJ28
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) May 22, 2025
Their activities became visible in 2014. Attacks were reported at the Neeta Jalatin office in Kochi, a Thirunelli resort in Wayanad, the forest department outpost in Kunjoth, and even McDonald’s and KFC outlets in Chandranagar, Palakkad district. Maoists staged their first open confrontation with the police on December 7, 2014, in Wayanad’s Thondarnad colony, opening fire on security personnel. Rupesh, a senior leader who had consolidated Maoist ideology in Kerala and mobilised protest movements, was arrested in 2015. Soon after, ideological efforts also weakened when another prominent figure, Murali Kannampally, who spearheaded propaganda, was also arrested.
By 2016, Thunderbolt force had intensified operations in the forests. On November 2016, Maoist Central Committee member Kuppu Devaraj and Ajitha alias Kaveri were killed in police firing in Malappuram’s Karulai forest. Radical human rights groups and left organisations alleged it was a fake encounter, claiming they were shot despite attempts to surrender.
Further blows followed. In March 2019, Kabani Dalam members C.P. Jaleel, Karthi, Manivasakam, Suresh, and Sreemathi were killed in a shootout in Palakkad’s Manjikandi. In October the same year, Maoist Velmurugan was shot dead in Valaramkunni, Pantipoyil, Banasura. Another encounter in November 2020 claimed further lives. Meanwhile, several leaders surrendered, reflecting disillusionment with the armed struggle.
The decisive collapse came in January, when Jisha, a Wayanad native active until last year, along with associates, surrendered in Karnataka. Among them were six senior Maoist leaders from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, including Mundagaru Latha, Sundari, Jayanna, Vanajakshi, and K. Vasanth. Their surrender raised questions about the continued relevance of village-centred armed struggle in a rapidly urbanising social environment.
Maoist insurgency weakens across India as Kerala sees complete retreat
At the national level, the death of top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, in a Bastar encounter marked another turning point. Basavaraju, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore, had earlier indicated willingness for peace talks following the fear of increased counter insurgency operations. Following his death, Abhayya, spokesperson of the Maoist Central Committee, released a statement on social media last month signalling readiness to suspend armed struggle against nation.
A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralized 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 21, 2025
In Kerala, however, the Maoist network is now all but dismantled. With their retreat from the forests, the state’s Thunderbolt force faces new realities. Currently operating in two divisions, one supporting local police stations in maintaining security, the other conducting forest missions, Thunderbolt has not altered its functions despite the decline of Maoist activity. Officers assigned to police stations are often deployed for crowd management at festivals and public gatherings.
The government is now considering redeployment, with discussions underway on limiting security arrangements designed to tackle the Maoist threat. For Kerala, once briefly seen as fertile ground for Maoist insurgency, the chapter seems closed.
