Naxal Maoist Insurgency

Barse Sanna among four dreaded Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh

PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) battalion of Maoists suffered a significant setback in Sukma area of Chhattisgarh, as four key members, including Barse Sanna — the brother of battalion chief Barse Deva — surrendered.
Madvi Hurra, the sole survivor of this group, revealed that two major encounters occurred within six months along the Bijapur-Dantewada border. In the first clash, he said, 26 Naxals, including commander DVCM Hunga (with an Rs 8 lakh bounty), were killed. Leadership then passed to Waga, another commander with an Rs 8 lakh reward, who was also eliminated along with 22 others, he narrated to police. This relentless pressure led to the surrender of the remaining members.
https://yespunjab.com/barse-sanna-among-four-dreaded-maoists-surrender-in-chhattisgarh/
 
Chhattisgarh: 22 Naxals, including four with bounty of Rs 26 lakh, surrender in Bijapur

In a significant development, at least 22 Naxals, including four carrying a collective bounty of Rs 26 lakh, surrendered to security forces in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, according to the police.

This follows the surrender of 26 Naxals in the neighboring Dantewada district the previous day. The cadres, which included six women, turned themselves in before senior officials from the police and the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF). They cited their disillusionment with the "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and growing internal differences within the outfit as the main reasons for their decision to abandon violence.
Among the surrendered Naxals, Kamli Hemla (32), a member of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no. 1 of the Maoists, and Muya Madvi (19), a party member in a company under the Telangana state committee, each had a reward of Rs 8 lakh on their heads. Additionally, Sonu Tati (28), a press team commander in the West Bastar division, and Mahesh Punem, a PLGA member in the Bhairamgarh area committee, were both carrying bounties of Rs 5 lakh each.

As of this year, 179 Naxals have surrendered in Bijapur district. In contrast, 83 Naxals have been killed and 172 arrested in separate incidents in the district during this period.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.in...6-lakh-surrender-in-bijapur-2025-04-08-984525
 
From the India Today Archives (2025): Winning the Naxal war

Later that night, a patrol searches the surrounding jungle for suspicious activity but not before a minesweeper has vigorously scanned the path they are to take. The Naxals’ biggest weapon is the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or the mines they plant on roads that can maim a person or even kill them. It’s pitch dark and the patrol walks in a single file with a hand on the shoulder of the person in front as the leader scans the jungle with night vision binoculars. Another patrol sets out in the morning, again in a single file, but on a fleet of motorcycles, the favoured mode of transport that helps avoid the mines.
Camps like Puvarti are designated Forward Operating Bases or FOBs and have become the lynchpin of the Modi government’s multi-pronged strategy to rid India of the Naxal threat by next spring. Rakesh Agrawal, the affable IG, CRPF, Chhattisgarh sector, explains why the FOBs have become a game-changer. Prior to their introduction six years ago, security camps were set up mainly on the highways near Naxal-infested areas and forces would conduct linear attacks. They would have to walk or trek as much as 30 km a day from their camps to launch operations against the Naxals, making them vulnerable to both exhaustion and easy ambushes. Now the FOBs are in the thick of jungles, close to the Naxal hideouts, and form a tight security grid 5 km from each other. In case of an attack on one camp, reinforcements are at hand and can be called upon if needed.
Currently, there are 182 security FOBs in the Bastar region, with the pace of establishing them only intensifying. Earlier, an average of 15 camps were set up annually, but 30 new FOBs have sprung up in 2024 alone. In keeping with Shah’s policy of “ruthlessly dealing with gun-toting Naxals”, these FOBs are armed with the latest equipment that has helped the forces outgun and outrange Naxalite arms. Besides Bulgarian-made AK series assault rifles, some of which have Under Barrel Grenade Launchers attached to them, Tavors and JVPC carbines, the forces have an array of area dominance weapons such as Carl Gustav 84 mm rocket launchers, 51 and 81 mm mortars, thermal imaging scopes as well as night vision equipment.

The newest addition to the forces’ arsenal is WhAP or the Wheeled Armoured Platform, jointly designed by Tata Advanced Systems and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). An armoured troop carrier, it has weapons control inside the vehicle and anti-mine abilities. This platform has helped the forces take the battle to the Naxals when under attack. Last year, when Naxals attacked the CRPF camp in Tekulagudem in Telangana, second-in-command S.S. Haokip commandeered the WhAP that used its MMGs to open fire at the huddled insurgents. This was the first time the Naxals had witnessed a WhAP in action, forcing them to beat a hasty retreat.
Equally game-changing has been the Modi government’s infusion of state-of-the-art surveillance technology, especially for intelligence-gathering and analysis. Each FOB is equipped with NETRA 3 and Bharat drones that have a range of 5 km and endurance of 60 minutes with multiple battery back-up. The drones can be flown out of a 10m x 10m space and send back razor-sharp images in real time to a screen at the base. Before embarking on an operation, forces fly the drones ahead of them, mapping the topography and the presence of any Naxals. Infrared capabilities for nighttime operations can discern humans from animal movement. As Choudhary puts it, “There is nowhere for our adversary to hide now and, for the first time after many years, the Naxals are truly on the run.”

Performing the most critical job of being eyes in the sky are the Heron UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), with a service ceiling of 35,000 feet and an endurance of 10 hours. Flying out of nearby airstrips, the Herons collect images of the affected area and pick up conversations on wireless and cellphones. The data is shared with security personnel who corroborate it with ground intelligence. A conversation, a phone call or fire from an uninhabited point on the map suggest the presence of rebels. Recent operations have been pinpointed and hugely successful mainly due to the sharing of technical intelligence or Techint between the Union government and state government agencies, says Amit Kumar, the CRPF’s additional director general for the central zone.

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https://www.indiatoday.in/india-tod...2025-winning-the-naxal-war-2705876-2025-04-08
 
Wanted in 11 criminal cases in Jharkhand, Naxal with Rs 1 lakh bounty killed in encounter in Bihar

This 35-year-old area commander of a Maoist outfit—CPI(Maoist)—was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Bihar’s Banka district today(Wednesday).

The deceased, identified as Ramesh Tudu alias Tedua, was carrying a reward of Rs. 1 lakh on his head. He was active in Bihar and the adjoining Jharkhand.

Acting on a tip-off, security personnel launched a combing operation in Kalothar forest under Katoria police station limits in Banka district. On seeing the police, Tudu and his associates started firing.

The police team, headed by the station house officer (SHO) of Katoria police station, Arvind Rai, fired in self-defense, causing bullet injuries to Tudu.

Tudu was rushed to the government referral hospital in Katoria, where doctors declared him dead. However, his associates managed to escape into the forest between Budhi Ghat and Kalothar, taking advantage of the area's topography.

https://jharkhandstatenews.com/arti...rs-1-lakh-bounty-killed-in-encounter-in-bihar
 
Jharkhand: Jawan Killed, Arms Seized in Anti-Naxal Operations
In Jharkhand, one security forces personnel of Jharkhand Jaguar has succumbed to his injuries while another one of Cobra battalion has been severely injured in an encounter with the Naxalites during a search operation being conducted under Jaraikela police station in West Singhbhum district. SP Ashutosh Shekhar has confirmed the incident and said that both the injured personnel Vishnu Saini of Cobra Battalion and Sunil Dhan of Jharkhand Jaguar were airlifted to Ranchi for better medical treatment where Sunil Dhan succumbed to his injuries. Both the jawans were injured in an IED blast during the encounter with the naxals. Joint search operation by Cobra Battalion, CROF, Jharkhand Jaguar and Chaibasa police forces area still underway.
Meanwhile, six naxals have been arrested including two Subzonal commander of maoist organisation TPC in another search operation conducted by police forces against Naxals in Latehar district. SP Kumar Gaurav informed the media that four rifles, one automated revolver, one motorbike and more than one thousand live cartridges with naxal literature has been seized from the arrested naxals.
https://www.newsonair.gov.in/jharkhand-jawan-killed-arms-seized-in-anti-naxal-operations/
 
Jharkhand Jaguar constable killed, CoBRA Jawan Injured in Naxal IED attack

A Jharkhand Jaguar constable was killed and a CoBRA jawan critically injured on Saturday afternoon in an IED (improvised explosive device) blast triggered by Naxals.

The incident occurred when security forces launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs about Naxal movements in the area. As the personnel went into the dense Radhapora forest, the Naxals ambushed them, triggering an IED blast followed by heavy gunfire.
Security officials suspect that senior CPI (Maoist) leaders—including Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu, Anal, Aseem Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohra, Chandan Lodra, Amit Dansda alias Upton, Jaykant, and Rapa Munda—are active in the region and plotting disruptive operations.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/sto...axal-attack-west-singhbhum-2708150-2025-04-12
 
Looks like Jharkhand is where these Maofags are trying to regroup due to pressure from Chattisgarh and all surrounding states. I unfortunately foresaw this in early March 2025.

With a stranglehold on Naxals in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and with NDA governments in these states as well as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the so called 'Red Corridor' has been broken.

View attachment 26766

This has allowed for :
  • More cooperation between central and state agencies
  • Grassroots level targeted delivery of welfare schemes
  • Better connect with tribals
  • FOBs/camps (48 hours to establish) near the vicinity of police stations
  • Better bush bashing and ground level penetration
  • Drone and satellite imagery matching with human intelligence
View attachment 26768

Outliers

Anyone looking at the map can figure out that Naxals can't go to :
  • North East
- Except Mizoram, all states are under NDA. Manipur is under President's Rule (center). No direct link to NE insurgents or Myanmar's Chin rebel groups.

- Per capita income and urbanization is lower however terrain is hostile and supply chains are difficult to maintain. People have different features and tribal militant groups are hostile to outsiders.
  • North and West
- Indian military formations are heavily concentrated at the border regions post 2020 standoff with China and these states have a military/nationalist bent in their farmsteads.

- Per capita income and urbanization is moderate however these states have a much higher Hindu nationalist bent which is anathema to atheist Maoist ideology.
  • South
- Except Kerala where ideological clashes (Marxist vs Maoist) belie any cooperation, rest of the states despite terrain have much better policing and can thus resist naxalism better (Grey Hounds).

- Per capita income and urbanization is highest and these states are the core of all technical institutions (DRDO, HAL, BARC, ADA, etc) which won't allow for any Pol Pot style Maoist ideology.


Threats

This means that Maoists can only move to 2 (maybe three states depending on Assembly Elections).
  • West Bengal (Unlikely)
- Mamata kicked out Maoists in 2011 from Jangalmahal and will readily help central forces crush any upstart Maoists fleeing from Chhattisgarh to safeguard her hold of power.
- If NDA comes to power in West Bengal, situation will go from bad to worse for any Maoists.

- CPM will have ideological clashes (Marxist vs Maoist) and will crush any Maoists with fervor.
  • Bihar (Highly Doubtful)
- NDA is likely to win in October-November 2025 and in any government, JDU will probably be the kingmaker or the main partner.

- For the same reasons as Mamata, Nitish will support the central government, whether in alliance or opposition to drive out Naxals .
  • Jharkhand (Likely)
- Maoists fleeing from Chhattisgarh could attempt to regroup in Jharkhand which is under JMM rule.

- Tribal identities, heavy forestation and terrain are opportunities for the Naxals.

- Active presence of Naxals in interior regions. Naxals have a violent history of operating in this state.

- Lack of cooperation from state government hampering operations.
 
3 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur in first encounter after ceasefire appeal

Security forces allegedly gunned down three Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district Saturday in what is the first encounter after Maoists recently sent letters appealing for a “ceasefire”.
The exchange of fire took place around 9 am beyond the Indravati river in Bhairamgarh, a hardcore Naxal area in Bijapur surrounded by Dantewada district and Abujhmad in Narayanpur district.
On Thursday, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma said the peace talks will be unconditional, provided the Maoists wish to return to the mainstream. He said all their doubts regarding police cases and their rehabilitation will be cleared during the talks. He also guaranteed their safety as well as that of their representatives. “I am ready to speak even with one or more Naxals through any channel,” said Sharma.

https://indianexpress.com/article/i...ter-ceasefire-appeal-9940163/#google_vignette
 

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