India Nears Complete Maoist Elimination, Says Ex-ATS Chief

Speaking to ANI, Raghuvanshi said, "It is a very significant achievement for the security forces and the government that we have reached a stage today where we can say that the Maoists are on the verge of being completely eliminated or wiped out. They had very strong support from the local tribals. There had been no development there, and that was the reason why the Maoists flourished there."

He highlighted the role of development and improved security measures in curbing Naxal influence, noting that "Today, a network of roads has been laid, the security forces are much better equipped, and they have better weapons."

KP Raghuvanshi added that while the Naxalites have been largely eliminated, he does not fully agree that the task is complete, emphasising that security forces must remain extremely vigilant.

"The Naxalites have been completely eliminated--I cannot fully agree with that, because our security forces need to remain extremely vigilant. We cannot say that this task is 100% complete," he said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday, declared that India has largely become Naxal-free, calling it one of the Modi government's biggest successes.

Shah asserted that Naxalism did not spread because of poverty but that poverty had been exacerbated by Naxal activity. He attributed the root cause of Naxalism to left-wing ideology, which he said was historically supported by political leaders to gain advantage in elections.

Shah highlighted that the Modi government has focused on development in previously neglected regions, contrasting it with past periods where Maoists hindered schools, dispensaries, and banks, misleading locals about the reach of development. He cited the results of security operations: 4,839 Naxalites have surrendered, 2,218 have been jailed, and 706 who refused to surrender were killed in encounters.

"We had set a target to make the region Naxal-free by March 31st. After the entire process, I'll inform the nation. However, I can state with absolute confidence that we've indeed become Naxal-free," he said. "

"Bihar had become Naxal-free prior to 2024. Maharashtra, barring a single tehsil, had become Naxal-free before 2024. Odisha had become Naxal-free prior to 2024. Jharkhand, except for one district, had become Naxal-free before 2024," he added.

The "Naxal Mukt Bharat" (Naxal-free India) mission was a strategic goal set by the Union Home Ministry under the Modi government to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 31, 2026.

- ANI