In a significant escalation of India’s decades-long battle against Maoist insurgents, security forces have intensified operations in the dense forests of central India, particularly in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad region. This area has long been considered a stronghold for the Communist Party of India (Maoist), also known as Naxalites.ThePrint+11The Indian Express+11Wikipedia+11The Indian Express+4Wikipedia+4Wikipedia+4
On May 21, 2025, Indian forces killed 27 suspected Maoist rebels, including Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, the group’s top leader. Basavaraju, who had a bounty of ₹1.5 crore (approximately $175,000), was the general secretary of the CPI (Maoist) and a key figure in the insurgency. His death is seen as a major blow to the Maoist movement, which has been active since the late 1960s. The Indian Express+2Wikipedia+2Al Jazeera+2Al Jazeera
The operation, part of a broader campaign dubbed “Operation Black Forest,” involved over 26,000 personnel and targeted the Karreguttalu Hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Over a three-week period, security forces dismantled several Maoist formations, including the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army’s Battalion 1. The operation resulted in the deaths of 31 rebels, the arrest of 54 individuals, and the surrender of 84 others across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Al Jazeera+4Hindustan Times+4Wikipedia+4
The Maoist insurgency, rooted in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal, has led to the deaths of over 12,000 people, including rebels, security personnel, and civilians. At its peak in the mid-2000s, the movement controlled nearly a third of India and had an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 fighters. However, recent years have seen a decline in their influence, with the number of affected districts dropping from 96 in 2010 to 45 in 2023. Al Jazeera+1Wikipedia+1Al Jazeera+1Wikipedia+1
Despite these setbacks, the Maoists have continued to carry out deadly attacks. Notable incidents include the 2010 ambush in Chhattisgarh that killed 76 paramilitary troops and the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambush, which resulted in the deaths of 22 security personnel. Wikipedia+2The Indian Express+2Al Jazeera+2
The Indian government’s intensified operations aim to eliminate the remaining Maoist presence by March 31, 2026. Home Minister Amit Shah has praised the recent successes, stating that the government is committed to eradicating Naxalism and ensuring peace and progress in affected regions. Hindustan TimesHindustan Times+2Al Jazeera+2Wikipedia+2
However, concerns remain about the impact of these operations on local communities. Human rights groups have called for independent investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings and the displacement of indigenous populations. The government maintains that development initiatives, including infrastructure projects and social programs, are essential components of its strategy to address the root causes of the insurgency.
As security forces continue their efforts, the future of the Maoist movement remains uncertain. While the recent operations have dealt significant blows to their leadership and infrastructure, the underlying issues of land rights, economic inequality, and social justice that fueled the insurgency persist. Addressing these concerns will be crucial to achieving lasting peace in the region.