What began as a peasant revolt in West Bengal's Naxalbari village in 1967 has been reduced to a residual threat confined to just two districts across India — a dramatic decline that officials attribute to a decade-long twin-track campaign of security operations and accelerated development under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On 18 May 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the government had largely succeeded in freeing India from Maoist violence, marking a significant milestone in the 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' mission.

Origins and Spread of the Movement

The Naxalite movement traces its roots to 1967, when agrarian unrest in Naxalbari ignited a far-left insurgency that claimed to champion land rights, resist tribal exploitation, and fill governance vacuums. Over subsequent decades, it spread across West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh, drawing support from sections of local populations who viewed it as resistance against social and economic injustice.

However, alongside its geographic expansion, the movement became increasingly associated with violence, extortion, and attacks on civilians and security personnel. According to officials, the Maoists also cultivated support networks in urban areas, where certain sympathisers allegedly promoted the movement through propaganda and ideological outreach.

Two major outfits — the People's War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) — merged on 21 September 2004 to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist), consolidating the movement under a unified banner.

The Bhima Koregaon Case and Urban Linkages

Violence surrounding the Bhima Koregaon commemoration in 2018 near Pune, Maharashtra became a pivotal moment in the Centre's counter-Maoist strategy. Pune Police alleged that the clashes had been covertly funded and organised through front organisations linked to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Several individuals were arrested, with investigators alleging that funds were channelled to certain accused with the intent of fomenting unrest and provoking confrontation with the State.

The episode sharpened the government's focus on what officials described as the Maoists' dual structure — an armed presence in forest regions and an ideological network in cities. National security planners reportedly concluded that countering the movement required dismantling both simultaneously.

The Two-Pronged Strategy

When the Modi government came to power at the Centre in 2014, it resolved to tackle Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) through a clearly articulated two-pronged approach: intensified security operations combined with accelerated development in affected regions. Amit Shah, in August 2024, formally announced a deadline of 31 March 2026 to eliminate the Maoist threat under the 'Naxal Mukt Bharat' mission.

On the security side, major campaigns including Operation Green Hunt and Operation Black Forest in 2025 resulted in the seizure of large arms stockpiles and the arrest or elimination of several top Maoist leaders and commanders. Officials note that the government's policy was unambiguous: Maoists were urged to either surrender and reintegrate into mainstream society, or face security action.

Those who surrendered were enrolled in rehabilitation programmes offering psychological counselling, literacy and educational support, vocational training, and livelihood assistance, according to officials.

Development as a Force Multiplier

Officials emphasise that the decline of the Maoist movement cannot be attributed to security operations alone. Improved road and mobile connectivity in remote areas enhanced intelligence-sharing, operational coordination, and the speed at which security forces could respond. More significantly, it altered the relationship between local communities and the State.

'Development initiatives received widespread acceptance among local communities in Maoist-affected regions. As governance and public services improved, many residents who had earlier remained silent or were perceived to be sympathetic to the Maoists began cooperating with the authorities,' officials said. This shift in public sentiment, they noted, proved to be a major turning point, with locals providing actionable intelligence that aided security operations.

The strategy also included fortifying police stations and addressing long-standing governance gaps. 'Equally important was the close coordination between central and state agencies, which ensured a unified approach to the anti-Maoist campaign,' an official noted.

From 126 Districts to Two: The Numbers

The scale of the retreat is stark. Between 2005 and 2010, as many as 126 districts across India were affected by Left-Wing Extremism. After March 2026, that number has fallen to just two districts, and none are classified as critically affected pockets, according to officials.

The government's focus has now reportedly shifted to preventing Maoist influence from re-establishing itself in urban areas. Intelligence Bureau officials have flagged attempts by some pro-Maoist elements to infiltrate protests and instigate violence. 'They will try to keep the pot boiling, but would find it very hard as the eyes and ears of the agencies are very much to the ground,' an official said. The battle, it appears, has moved from the forests to the cities — and the government is watching closely.