Context:
- Madhya Pradesh officially declared itself Maoist-free on December 11, 2025, following a sustained one-year counter-Left Wing Extremism (LWE) campaign.
- The operations were concentrated in Balaghat, Mandla, and Dindori districts, historically vulnerable due to forest cover and proximity to LWE-affected States.
- The strategy combined security operations, financial disruption, intelligence-led action, and governance outreach.
Key Highlights:
Security Operations & Strategy:
- Targeted operations against Maoist hideouts using drones and UAVs with heat sensors, crucial as Maoists avoided mobile phones.
- Final operation involved around 1,200 security personnel over nine days, leading to the surrender of the last two Maoist cadres.
Financial Disruption Measures:
- Focus on dismantling the tendu patta extortion economy, a key Maoist funding source.
- Maoist collections reduced from ~₹3 crore to less than ₹11 lakh.
- Digitisation of payments to tendu contractors through Jan-Dhan accounts, e-KYC, and geo-tagging of tendu leaf movement cut off cash flows.
Intelligence & Surrenders:
- Strengthened intelligence by systematic questioning of surrendered cadres and mapping the LWE support network.
- Turning point: Surrender of Sunita (November 1, 2025) provided actionable intelligence.
- Led to the capture of senior Maoist commander Ramdher in Chhattisgarh, weakening inter-State coordination.
Governance & Community Engagement:
- Road construction and infrastructure projects in former Maoist strongholds countered insurgent narratives.
- Village meetings and oath-taking ceremonies eroded Maoist claims of protecting tribal interests.
- Emphasis on post-conflict micro-development plans for affected villages.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Presence of Left-Wing Extremism in forested and tribal regions.
- Causes:
- Socio-economic deprivation
- Cross-border Maoist movement from neighbouring States
- Dependence on forest-based extortion economies
- Government Initiatives:
- Anti-LWE security operations
- Financial inclusion via Jan-Dhan Yojana
- Digitisation and geo-tagging of forest produce trade
- Benefits:
- Disruption of Maoist finances
- Improved internal security
- Restoration of State authority
- Challenges:
- Risk of relapse without sustained development
- Ensuring trust among tribal communities
- Impact:
- Madhya Pradesh declared Maoist-free
- Enhanced regional stability
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Definitions:
- Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): Violent movements seeking radical socio-political change.
- Tendu Patta: Forest produce used for bidi-making, exploited by Maoists for extortion.
- Conceptual Linkages:
- Security–Development Nexus
- Internal Security management
- Role of technology in counter-insurgency
- Keywords:
- LWE
- Internal Security
- Tribal Welfare
- Financial Inclusion
- Way Forward:
- Implement micro-development plans tailored to local needs.
- Maintain intelligence-based policing and inter-State coordination.
- Strengthen tribal livelihoods and service delivery.
- Prevent resurgence through continuous community engagement.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS III – Internal Security: Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency strategy
- GS II – Governance: Role of State, development delivery, technology in governance
- GS I – Indian Society: Tribal communities, social integration, conflict resolution