India’s fight against Naxalism is no longer a defensive one. It has become an aggressive, strategic, and largely successful campaign to wipe out the last vestiges of Maoist insurgency that plagued the nation for decades. With Operation Kagar launched in January 2024, India has entered the final phase of the campaign, bringing Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s vision of a “Naxal-free Bharat” within striking distance.
Operation Kagar: A Turning Point
Covering Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana, Operation Kagar is the most sweeping anti-Naxal offensive in Indian history. It mobilized over 1 lakh personnel from CRPF, CoBRA, DRG units, and state police forces. So far, over 400 Naxals have been eliminated, and more than 800 have surrendered.
The government’s dual strategy of force and development is working. 320 new camps have been established in hostile zones, supported by 555 fortified police stations (up from just 66 in 2014) and 68 night-landing helipads to allow swift aerial deployment.
Basavaraju Neutralised: The Domino Falls
In a major triumph, security forces recently killed CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, the highest-ranking Maoist leader, in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad forest. The 50-hour operation also neutralized 26 other Naxals.
Basavaraju, the movement’s ideological and military brain since 2018, operated with a 60-70 man armed shield. His death has shaken the cadre. Intelligence penetration in the Maoist ranks is now deeper than ever before. Former DGP RK Vij called it a “crippling blow” and predicted a surge in surrenders.
Decline of Red Terror: Numbers Tell the Story
- Naxal violence down 77% (2010-2021)
- Districts affected down from 106 (2015) to 6 (2025)
- Deaths from Naxal attacks down 90%
- 928 Naxals surrendered in 2024, 718 more in the first four months of 2025
The areas once ruled by fear and ambush are now witnessing development. Buses now run in Dantewada, a district where government staff once feared entering. Schools, health centers, and mobile towers are gradually replacing weapons caches and IEDs.
Amit Shah’s Deadline: March 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah set March 31, 2026 as the deadline for complete eradication of Naxalism. Addressing Parliament earlier this year, he cited a 53% reduction in violent incidents over a decade, reaffirming that India is winning the internal war.
Two Successors, No Direction
With Basavaraju gone, the CPI (Maoist) faces a leadership crisis. Two contenders remain:
- Devji, a seasoned commander known for combat but lacking ideological finesse.
- Venugopal Rao, a politically astute leader with command over the tribal belt’s language and culture.
Neither commands Basavaraju’s fear or influence. The organisation appears rudderless.
Final Words: Endgame in Sight
India’s war on red terror is no longer about containment. It is about total elimination. And with intelligence-backed precision strikes, civil development, and the near-collapse of Maoist leadership, the goal is achievable.
The road to 2026 may still have hurdles, but the path is clear. The red shadow over Bharat is lifting.