How big a challenge is it to eliminate Naxalites in the next one year? Know how big is their network and which states they are present in

How big challenge it is to eliminate Naxalites- File Photo

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had claimed last year that Naxalism will be eradicated from the country by March 2026. In such a situation, the question arises that how big a challenge is this ‘Naxal-free’ goal of the government. How big is the network of Naxalites?

8 soldiers have died in the Naxalite IED blast in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh on Monday January 6, 2025 . This Naxalite attack has happened at a time when the army has launched a large-scale campaign against Naxals in many parts of the country including Chhattisgarh. In fact, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had claimed last year that Naxalism will be wiped out from the country by March 2026. In such a situation, the question arises that how big a challenge is this ‘Naxal-free’ goal of the government. How big is the network of Naxalites? How much challenge is there in front of the army? At the same time, how strong and how weak has Naxalism become in the country in about 57 years.

History of Naxalism

Naxalism started from Naxalbari village in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. A movement started against the exploitation of farmers laid the foundation of this extremism. But soon Naxalism engulfed many parts of the country.

Naxalism saw a rise after the year 2000

This insurgency, which started in the year 1967, can be seen in many phases. Its influence gradually started increasing in many parts of the country. But after the year 2000, the most gruesome form of Naxalism started to emerge. On October 1, 2003, Naxalites attacked the convoy of then Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. After this, the Andhra government launched a big campaign against Naxalites in the state. This year, 246 Naxalites were killed in Andhra Pradesh.

However, after this, Naxalites carried out several major attacks one after another in many states. Those opposing Naxalism were targeted. Police and army personnel were targeted through bomb blasts. Many big leaders also died in Naxal attacks.

The rise of Naxalism can be gauged from the fact that in Odisha alone, 700 people died between 2005 and 2008.

The central government and state governments have conducted many big operations from time to time to eliminate Naxalism. Many campaigns have also been launched to bring Naxalites into the mainstream. In 2011, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had described Naxalism as the biggest threat to the security of the country. He had said that development is the surest way to end this insurgency.

The government also increased the number of army personnel in Naxal-affected areas. Even in 1990, the state government in Chhattisgarh started training civilians to fight Naxalites. Which was called Salwa Judum. The government provided arms to the citizens. However, it was abolished after protests and the Supreme Court orders.

How big was the Naxal network in the year 2021

After year 2000, when Naxal attacks were at their peak, they had active influence in more than 180 districts of the country. But despite many campaigns, Naxalism remained active in about 70 districts of 10 states of the country till 2021. Till that time, the states most affected by Naxalism were Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Apart from this, Naxalites also had presence in some districts in Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

How many people died in Naxal attacks year by year

The dangerous form of Naxalism started to emerge since 1990. In 1996, a total of 156 people died in Naxal attacks. In 1997, this figure increased to 348. Then this figure kept increasing year after year. The maximum number of people died in Naxal attacks in 2009 and 2010. In both the years, this figure was above one thousand. Talking about the total figures, a total of 5490 Naxal incidents have taken place from 1995 to 2024, in which more than 5 and a half thousand civilians have died. More than 3 thousand soldiers have died. At the same time, more than 5 thousand Naxalites have also been killed. That is, the total death toll is more than 14 thousand.

How big a challenge is Amit Shah’s claim

Recently, Amit Shah had claimed that Naxalism has been eradicated from the rest of the country except some districts of Chhattisgarh. Many reports also came out which said that at present Chhattisgarh is the state which is most affected by Naxalism. 15 districts of Chhattisgarh – Bijapur, Bastar, Dantewada, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Kanker, Kondagaon, Mahasamund, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon, Mohalla-Manpur-Ambagadh Chowki, Khairgarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Sukma, Kabirdham and Mungeli are Naxal-affected.

What figures did the government give

On August 7 last year, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai presented the figures related to Naxalism or Left Wing Extremism in the Parliament. In this, he had told that in 2024, there has been a 73% reduction in Naxal incidents as compared to 2010. Similarly, the deaths in these Naxal incidents have also reduced by 86%. In 2010, 1,005 people died in Naxalite incidents, while in 2023, 138 people were killed. This also includes the number of martyred soldiers of the security forces. He had told that till 2013, 126 districts of 10 states across the country were Naxal-affected. By April 2024, Naxalism has been reduced to only 38 districts of 9 states.

The figures given by the government

On August 7 last year, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai presented figures related to Naxalism or Left Wing Extremism in Parliament. In this, he had told that in 2024, Naxalite incidents have reduced by 73% as compared to 2010. Similarly, deaths in these Naxalite incidents have also reduced by 86%. In 2010, there were 1,005 deaths in Naxalite incidents, while in 2023, 138 people were killed. This also includes the number of martyred soldiers of the security forces. He had told that till 2013, 126 districts of 10 states across the country were Naxal-affected. By April 2024, Naxalism has been confined to only 38 districts of 9 states.

How much Naxalism has weakened

Till three years ago, 10 districts of Bihar were Naxal-affected. But now Naxalism has been wiped out from there. Similarly, in states like Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Telangana, Naxalites have been confined to two-four districts. Till 2021, 16 districts of Jharkhand were Naxal-affected, but now only 5 districts here are like this. Alluri Sitaramraju of Andhra Pradesh, Wayanad and Kannur of Kerala, Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori of Madhya Pradesh, Gadchiroli and Gondia of Maharashtra, Bhadradri-Kotagudem and Mulugu of Telangana and Jhargram district of West Bengal are Naxal-affected.

According to the data of the central government, till 2010, Naxalism was spread to 465 police stations in 96 districts. By the end of 2023, it was confined to 171 police stations in 42 districts. At the same time, till June 2024, there are only 89 police stations in 30 districts of the country where Naxalism is spread.
Statistics show that Naxalism has weakened in the country in the last few years. At the same time, the army’s operation against Naxalism has also increased. The government has also launched several schemes to bring the extremists into the mainstream. Many temptations were also given to break the system. Targets have also been given to the soldiers. The number of camps of soldiers has been increased in the affected areas. The surveillance system has been strengthened.
But it cannot be denied that the network of Naxalites is very strong in some areas of Chhattisgarh. They easily get information related to the army. Reports show that in many areas they have planted IEDs at such places, whose information is not with the army.

After the Naxalite attack in Bijapur, once again Amit Shah has claimed that he will definitely achieve the resolution of making the country Naxal-free by 2026.