Context:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently addressed the President’s Police Colour Award function in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, emphasizing the significant strides the state has made in its battle against Naxalism. He highlighted that 287 Naxalites had been neutralized, 1,000 arrested, and 837 surrendered over the past year, marking a positive shift in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). Home Minister stressed that the war against Naxalism would be completely eradicated by 2026. This is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce the stronghold of Naxalites in Chhattisgarh and bring peace and development to the region.

What is Naxalism?

·        Naxalism, also known as Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), is one of the most serious challenges to India’s internal security. It is a form of armed rebellion based on the principles of Maoism, which advocates for the overthrow of the state through violent means. The movement began in the 1960s and has since spread across several states in India, with its presence being most notable in what is called the ‘Red Corridor’ – a stretch of territory running through Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

·        The term ‘Naxalism’ comes from the Naxalbari village in West Bengal, where in 1967, a peasant uprising led by communist leaders Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal gave birth to the movement. Initially, it was a tribal-peasant rebellion against landlords but later evolved into a larger ideological battle led by the Communist Party of India (Maoist), formed in 2004 through the merger of two groups: the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) and the People’s War Group.

·        Naxalism seeks to overthrow India’s democratic system and replace it with a system based on the principles of Marxism-Leninism. Its primary tool to achieve this goal has been violence, including ambushes, bombings, and targeted killings.

The Spread of Naxalism in India:

·        The influence of Naxalites is strongest in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar, which have been severely affected by Maoist insurgencies. These areas are characterized by large tribal populations, widespread poverty, and underdevelopment. Naxalites have managed to gain support from marginalized groups such as Dalits, Adivasis, agricultural laborers, and sharecroppers, who feel exploited by the state and private landlords.

·        In recent years, there has been an increasing Naxalite presence in states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, with an aim to connect the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats. They have also attempted to infiltrate Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which poses significant long-term security concerns for India.

Causes of Naxalism:

Naxalism is a complex phenomenon that cannot be reduced to a single cause. Several factors contribute to its rise and persistence:

●     Marginalization and Social Inequality: Naxalites primarily come from marginalized communities like Dalits and tribals, who suffer from exploitation, lack of land, and inadequate access to basic resources. This inequality fuels resentment against the state, making them susceptible to the ideologies of Maoism.

●     Economic Disparity: The absence of economic development in Naxal-affected areas is one of the main reasons for the persistence of Naxalism. Poor infrastructure, lack of education, healthcare, and employment opportunities create a fertile ground for radical ideologies.

●     Land and Forest Rights: Tribals, who depend on forests for their livelihood, have been systematically deprived of their rights under various laws and regulations. This has led to a growing sense of alienation and distrust towards the government, which Naxalites exploit.

●     Lack of State Presence: In many parts of the Red Corridor, the government has a weak presence. Basic governance functions such as law enforcement, healthcare, and education are either absent or ineffective, which allows Naxalites to establish their dominance.

How Naxalism Challenges India:

Naxalism presents multiple challenges to India:

●     Security Threats: Naxalites have strong links with insurgent groups in Northeast India and international actors hostile to India, making the movement a significant security threat. The Maoist ideology also resonates with some separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

●     Economic Impact: Naxal violence disrupts economic activities in affected areas. It discourages investment, damages infrastructure, and diverts resources from development to internal security.

●     Impediments to Governance: Naxal-affected areas often face a breakdown in governance. The local populations are subjected to violence, intimidation, and extortion, further deepening their mistrust of the government.

●     Cost to Security Forces: The government has to spend significant resources on internal security to combat Naxalism, diverting funds from other essential developmental programs.

Government’s Approach to Tackling Naxalism:

The Indian government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to combat Naxalism. This strategy involves both security and developmental interventions.

●     Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs): Specially trained CAPFs have been deployed to assist state police forces in the Naxal-affected areas. These forces are engaged in anti-Naxal operations and counterinsurgency missions.

●     Security-Related Expenditure Scheme: The government has launched a scheme to provide financial support for security operations, including training, insurance, and rehabilitation of surrendered Naxalites.

●     Strengthening Intelligence Networks: The government has focused on improving intelligence gathering and sharing through mechanisms such as the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), which enables better coordination between state and central intelligence agencies.

●     Better Coordination between States: The government has been working to improve cooperation between states, particularly those along the borders of Naxal-affected areas, to enhance security coordination and information sharing.

●     Combatting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs): The Naxalites have used IEDs as their weapon of choice. To counter this, the Ministry of Home Affairs has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with explosives and landmines in Naxal-hit areas.

●     Air Support: The government has provided enhanced air support, including the use of UAVs and helicopters, to help in anti-Naxal operations and evacuations.

The Way Forward:

To effectively deal with Naxalism, India needs to adopt a dual approach that combines security measures with social and economic development. The government’s efforts should focus on:

1.    Development Initiatives: Ensuring that Naxal-affected areas receive adequate infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job opportunities is essential for winning over the local population. This would deprive Naxalites of their support base.

2.    Surrender and Rehabilitation: The government should continue to encourage Naxalites to surrender and reintegrate into society through attractive surrender policies. This has already shown positive results in Chhattisgarh.

3.    Building Trust with Tribals: Ensuring the rights of tribals over land and forests is essential. The government should address the grievances of tribal communities to reduce their alienation.

4.    Enhanced Security Measures: While development is important, the security forces must continue to engage in operations against Naxalite groups to dismantle their networks.

Conclusion:

Naxalism remains a significant challenge to India’s internal security, but the government’s approach is showing positive results. The recent success in Chhattisgarh and other states suggests that with continued efforts in both security and development, Naxalism can be defeated. However, long-term peace will only be achieved when marginalized communities feel included in the nation’s development, and their grievances are addressed. Through a combination of force and development, India has the opportunity to resolve the Naxal issue once and for all.