Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), popularly known as Maoism or Naxalism, is an armed insurgency that began with the Naxalbari uprising in 1967 (West Bengal). It aimed to overthrow the Indian state through violent revolution, exploiting tribal alienation, socio-economic grievances, and governance deficits.
Historical Evolution of Naxalism:
- Ideological Phase (1967–1980s): Inspired by Charu Mazumdar & Kanu Sanyal; spread in tribal belts of central India.
- Militarisation Phase (1990s–2004): Consolidation through merger of PWG, MCCI into CPI (Maoist) in 2004.
- Peak Phase (2005–2010): Dominance in ‘Red Corridor’; urban-rural nexus.
- Decline Phase (2010 onwards): Splintering factions, sustained state push, weakening ideological base.
Reasons for Decline of LWE:
Security Measures:
- SAMADHAN Doctrine (2017): Smart leadership, aggressive strategy, tech use, and financial choke.
- Operations: Operation Octopus, Double Bull, and Chakrabandha (2022) were successful in eliminating major maoists.
- Infrastructure Expansion: Over 280 security camps and 544 fortified police stations in LWE areas led to enhanced security.
Development Push:
- Connectivity: 14,400 km of roads (2014–2024) and 6,000 mobile towers in Maoist belts.
- Education & Skills: ITIs, skill centres, and residential schools (Eklavya Model Schools).
- Health & Welfare: Jan Dhan, Ayushman Bharat, and tribal welfare schemes reaching hinterland.
Rehabilitation Efforts:
- Surrender policies with vocational training and financial assistance.
- For Example, Telangana’s rehabilitation-driven approach yielded large-scale surrenders.
Declining Ideological Appeal:
- Loss of urban intellectual support.
- Exposure of Maoist violence against tribals themselves (e.g., attacks in Bastar villages) delegitimised the movement.
Challenges still persist:
- Residual Strongholds: Bastar (Chhattisgarh), parts of Odisha & Jharkhand still active.
- Tribal Grievances: Issues of Jal, Jungle, Jameen remain unresolved especially the implementation of Forest Rights Act.
- Geographical Advantage: Dense forests aid guerrilla warfare and hideouts.
- Urban Maoist Networks: Underground cells for propaganda, funding, recruitment.
- Potential Resurgence: Any lapse in governance, displacement, or neglect of tribal rights may revive support.
Way Forward:
Bridging Trust Deficit:
- Engage tribals in governance through local recruitment in police, community policing, and Gram Sabha empowerment.
- For Example, Bastar Peace March (2021) under slogan “Bastar Maange Hinsa se Azadi”.
Counter-Ideological Narrative:
- Promote democratic participation & constitutional values.
- Encourage tribal voices in policymaking; promote success stories of development.
Strengthening Centre-State Coordination:
- Clear delineation of roles, joint intelligence sharing, continued funding under SRE & SIS schemes.
Technological Leverage:
- GIS, GPS, drones, and surveillance to track movement in forests.
- Data-driven policing and AI-enabled early warning systems.
Sustainable Development:
- Land rights settlement under Forest Rights Act (2006).
- Education, livelihood generation, health infrastructure to break cycle of alienation.
Conclusion:
The decline of LWE showcases India’s multi-pronged counter-insurgency success combining security, development, and rehabilitation. Insurgency without ideology or popular support becomes a hollow force; India must continue its security + development + governance triad to ensure lasting peace.
‘+1’ Value addition:
- “A bullet can kill a terrorist, but governance kills extremism.”
- Districts affected by LWE dropped from 126 to 38 (2013–2024) and Violent incidents reduced by over 80% between 2010–2023.
- Bijapur Operation(Feb 2025): 31 Maoists eliminated, a major blow to insurgency.
- Decline of LWE in India is similar to the decline of FARC in Colombia (peace process + reintegration + state presence).
- Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh described LWE as India’s “single biggest internal security challenge”.
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