India’s decades-long battle against Naxalism has now reached its decisive and final stage. After years of bloodshed, ambushes, and counter-operations, the Indian security forces are striking with remarkable intensity in areas once considered the safest hideouts for Maoists. The latest operations in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh show that the network of the extremists is collapsing rapidly under pressure.

In Jharkhand, Gumla Police, working closely with the Jharkhand Jaguars, carried out a daring encounter at Ragdi Toli, Kechki, under the Bishanpur police station. In this clash, three dreaded Naxalites of the Jharkhand Janmukti Parishad (JJMP) were neutralised. The eliminated militants were Lalu Lohara, Chhotu Oraon, and Sujit Oraon. Gumla SP Haris Bin Zaman confirmed the operation, stressing its significance as two of the slain—Lalu Lohara and Chhotu Oraon—were high-ranking sub-zonal commanders.

Both commanders carried a bounty of ₹5 lakh each, making this one of the most important strikes in recent months. Lalu Lohara, a resident of Lohardaga, was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle, a weapon often used by Maoists to terrorise local populations and target security patrols. His accomplice, Chhotu Oraon of Latehar, was also a sub-zonal commander with an equally high bounty. The third militant, Sujit Oraon, hailed from Lohardaga and was working as a cadre. Police recovered three weapons from the site, giving a clear indication of how well-armed this group was.

The success in Gumla was soon followed by another major breakthrough in Abujhmad, a region notorious for being a Maoist fortress. On 22 September, security forces acting on intelligence reports launched an operation in Narayanpur, located on the Maharashtra–Chhattisgarh border. Here, two of the most senior Maoist leaders were killed: Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadri Satyanarayan Reddy. Bastar IG P. Sundarraj revealed that the encounter was part of a sustained push to dismantle the Central Committee’s leadership.

From the site, forces recovered an AK-47, an INSAS rifle, and ammunition, proving that these men were not just ordinary operatives but well-equipped and deeply embedded in the Maoist command chain. The slain leaders were none other than Raju Dada alias Katta Ramachandra Reddy (63) and Kosa Dada alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (67). Both men had a massive reward of ₹40 lakh each announced in Chhattisgarh. They were long-time residents of Karimnagar, Telangana, and considered masterminds behind many deadly ambushes in central India.

Interestingly, just a few weeks before these high-profile killings, the Maoist Central Committee reportedly sent a letter to the central government asking for dialogue and proposing a one-month ‘ceasefire’. Analysts believe this desperate attempt reflects the fear gripping the Maoist leadership as the government’s operations tighten their noose.

Adding to this momentum, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a strategic redeployment of CRPF companies. Out of the 85 companies (8,500 personnel) stationed in Jammu & Kashmir, 71 companies have now been ordered to return to their original bases, leaving just 14 companies in J&K. These returning troops are expected to join an all-out anti-Naxal offensive across Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Jharkhand.

The returning companies will be reassigned to 10 different sectors, including Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar. With this move, the government is making it clear that the final showdown against Naxalism is near, as manpower is being strategically shifted to finish off the remnants of this insurgency.

Modi government’s offensive against Naxalism accelerates in its final stage

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made no secret of the government’s resolve. He has repeatedly declared that by 31 March 2026, Maoist terror will be completely eradicated from Indian soil. To deliver on this promise, the government has intensified operations across the Dandakaranya region, long regarded as the backbone of Naxal activity.

In one such recent strike, three top Naxalites with a combined bounty of ₹1.35 crore were neutralised in the Pati Piri forest of Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district. The slain included:

• Sahdev Soren alias Parvesh, a Central Committee member, with a staggering ₹1 crore reward

• Raghunath Hembram, Bihar–Jharkhand Special Area Committee member, with ₹25 lakh reward

• Birsen Ganjhu alias Ramkhelavan, regional committee member, with ₹10 lakh reward

Earlier, on 7 September, another major breakthrough came in Chaibasa, where Maoist leader Aaptan was killed during a fierce gun battle. Soon after, in Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband district, security forces eliminated 10 Maoist terrorists, including the dreaded Modem Balkrishna alias Manoj, who carried a ₹1 crore reward. This string of encounters has left the Maoist hierarchy shaken and leaderless in many pockets.

To accelerate this momentum, the Modi government launched Operation Kagar in January 2024. This is not just another counter-insurgency drive but a multi-dimensional mission. It combines aggressive military strikes, stronger coordination between central and state forces, and parallel development efforts aimed at breaking the socio-economic roots of Naxalism.

Nearly 1 lakh personnel have been deployed under Operation Kagar, including the CRPF, CoBRA units, District Reserve Guards (DRG), and state police forces. These units are now equipped with cutting-edge technology—drones to scan thick forests, AI-powered tools for intelligence gathering, and satellite imagery to track Maoist hideouts. This modernisation has made operations more precise and deadly against insurgents.

The results are already visible. Back in 2015, 106 districts across 10 states were considered Naxal-affected. By 2024, the number had dropped to 38, and now it has further shrunk to just 18. Of these, 12 districts were once categorised as the worst-hit, but that figure has been cut down to 6. The statistics show the dramatic shrinking of Maoist influence, proof that the strategy is working.

However, the government has also made it clear that this is not just a war to eliminate but also to reintegrate. While hardcore Maoists are being taken down, those willing to surrender are being offered rehabilitation packages. Both central and state governments are ensuring surrendered Maoists receive financial support, vocational training, and assistance to return to mainstream life. This carrot-and-stick policy is aimed at ensuring that once the gun is laid down, a return to insurgency becomes unnecessary.