Amid final anti-insurgency push, Chhattisgarh police claim upper hand: ‘Maoism will end’
The remarks came on a day of two significant developments — two major encounters that killed 14 Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts, and the surrender of Barsa Deva, a top Maoist commander, in Telangana
With less than three months left for the March 2026 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2024 to eradicate Naxalism from India, Chhattisgarh Additional Director General of Police (Naxal operations) Vivekanand Sinha said security forces had an “upper hand” and urged Maoists to “return to the mainstream”.
“Naxal problem will end,” Sinha told The Indian Express on Saturday. “We are in a very good position and have the upper hand. The morale of our forces is very high. We appeal to those still holding arms to drop their weapons and return to the mainstream.”
They also come two months before the Centre’s deadline to eradicate the Maoist movement. Saturday’s developments, together with the killing of general secretary Basava Raju in May and a spate of Central Committee members, including Battalion 1 commander Hidma in November, have meant a major setback to the Maoist movement this year.
According to police, 10 Central Committee Members (CCMs) — including Hidma — were gunned down by security forces in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand in 2025. Besides, five members of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), the highest state-level body in Chhattisgarh, were also killed.
“In the last two years (2024–2025), a total of 223 encounters took place between security forces and Maoists in which 473 Maoists were gunned down, 1,827 Maoists were arrested and 2,365 Maoists surrendered,” Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range Sundarraj P said at the press conference.
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Some 42 security personnel were killed in IED blasts, while 117 civilians were killed in Maoist violence, officials said.
A record number of weapons, including automatic firearms — such as 42 AK-47s, three INSAS Light Machine Guns (LMGs), 39 Self Loading Rifles (SLRs), 47 INSAS rifles and seven carbines — along with IEDs, were recovered this year, police said, adding that 88 police camps were set up over the past two years to plug a massive security vacuum in Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma districts.
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
