The Central government has reaffirmed its commitment to completely eliminate Left Wing Extremism in the country by March 31 next year and has intensified security operations across Maoist-affected regions. As part of this strategy, security forces are conducting sustained operations against senior Maoist leaders, while a growing number of cadres are surrendering.
Last month, top Maoist commander Hidma was killed in an encounter with security forces. The focus has now shifted to key leaders Paparao and Deva, who are considered among the most wanted operatives due to their experience, strong local networks and influence in the southern Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Intelligence agencies estimate that more than 150 armed Maoists are still active in the Bastar area.
In a major operational breakthrough, security forces dismantled an illegal weapons manufacturing unit operated by Naxals in the forested hills near Meenagatta village in Sukma district. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force’s 150th Battalion and the Sukma district police carried out the operation and seized a large cache of arms, explosives and manufacturing equipment. Officials said the unit was being used to produce weapons and ammunition to target security personnel, and its destruction has dealt a significant blow to Maoist capabilities.
Security agencies revealed that information provided by recently surrendered Maoists played a key role in locating the weapons unit and identifying the movements of senior leaders. Based on these inputs, operations have been intensified against Paparao and Deva. Barsa Deva, aged 48, is believed to be leading a key guerrilla battalion of the Maoist party and hails from Puvarti village in Sukma district. Paparao, 57, is a tribal leader from Kishtaram in the same district. Both are regarded as central figures in the Maoist stronghold of southern Bastar. Bastar Inspector General P Sundarraj stated that only one battalion of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army remains active in the region.
During the operation, security forces recovered eight single-shot rifles, 15 twelve-bore cartridges, five electric detonators, 30 metres of cordex wire, two kilograms of PEK explosives, one kilogram of ANFO, 10 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, eight VHF wireless sets, a welding machine, Maoist uniforms and propaganda material.
Police officials said that since January 2024, a total of 599 Maoists have surrendered in Sukma district, 460 have been arrested and 71 have been killed in encounters. Up to December 9 this year, 96 encounters were reported in the Bastar region, resulting in the deaths of 252 Maoists and 23 security personnel. Among those killed were CPI Maoist chief Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, along with three Central Committee members. During the same period, Maoists allegedly killed 46 civilians on suspicion of being police informers.
The government highlighted a sharp decline in Maoist influence across the country, with the number of affected districts reducing from 126 in 2014 to 11 this year. Security officials said sustained and coordinated anti-Naxal operations are being carried out to dismantle insurgent infrastructure and restore lasting peace in the Bastar division.