357 Maoists Killed in Chhattisgarh’s Year-long Crackdown on Insurgency

Raipur:

According to Chhattisgarh Police, 357 Maoist were slain in operations over the previous year, marking a major uptick in the state's long running counter insurgency efforts. Security forces say several high ranking leaders were among the dead, making this one of the deadliest years for the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist). 

Police officials claim that the operations were a part of a larger campaign known as "Kagaar," which targeted Maoist strongholds in the Dandakaranya region, which includes portions of southern Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. "This is the biggest blow to Maoist leadership in decades," stated Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range). Fifteen state level committee leaders and four Central Committee members were among those slain.

Of the 357 deceased Maoists, 281 were killed within the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee’s jurisdiction. The police also confirmed that 136 of those killed were women, reflecting the large number of female cadres in the Maoist ranks. The operations involved joint action by the Chhattisgarh Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and elite anti Naxal units such as the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF).

In an unusual move, the Maoists themselves released a 24 page internal booklet acknowledging their losses. The publication, reportedly distributed among cadres ahead of Martyrs’ Week (28 July to 3 August), confirmed the death of 357 members, including top leaders like Basavaraju (General Secretary), Vivek (Prayag Manjhi), and Chalapathi (Ramachandra Reddy). The booklet attributed 269 deaths to what it described as “encirclement attacks” by forces, while claiming that 80 cadres were killed in what it alleged were “fake encounters”. It also alleged the deaths of 31 civilians and claimed that Maoists had killed 75 security personnel and injured 130 in retaliatory attacks using IEDs and ambushes.

Maoist strength has drastically decreased as a result of the government's strategy, according to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who oversees the Home portfolio. He claimed that in the past 12 months, almost 3,000 Maoist operatives have been arrested or turned themselves in, undermining the organisation’s morale and organisational structure. He declared, "This is the outcome of a planned approach led by our security forces and supported by local communities." 

This sentiment was echoed by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who added that 425 Maoists had been neutralised, 1,388 had surrendered, and 1,443 had been arrested over the previous 1.5 years. He attributed the achievement to the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Human rights organisations have expressed concern over claims of extrajudicial killings and civilian casualties, especially among tribal populations in districts dominated by Maoists, even as security officials celebrate the operations' success. However, the government has denied any misconduct and insists that all actions were legal. 

The situation in the red corridor is still tense as Martyrs' Week draws near and Maoist literature calls for renewed mobilisation. In anticipation of possible retaliation, authorities are still keeping a careful eye on intelligence inputs.