Context:
Thirty-seven alleged Maoists, including several carrying cash rewards, surrendered before security forces in Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh, under the State’s continuous push for rehabilitation and weakening Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
- Origins of LWE in India
- Began with the Naxalbari uprising in 1967 (West Bengal), led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal.
- Inspired by Maoist ideology → “Protracted People’s War.”
- Spread through forested, tribal, and economically backward regions forming the Red Corridor.
- Geographical Spread
Historically affected parts of 10 states, mainly:
- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.
Today, LWE has significantly declined — only few districts remain severely affected (mainly in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, parts of Odisha).
- Causes of LWE (UPSC Favourite)
- Socio-Economic Causes
- Poverty, unemployment, lack of development
- Land alienation and landlessness
- Displacement due to mining and development projects
- Inequitable resource distribution
- Governance Deficit
- Weak administrative presence in remote areas
- Corruption and exploitation by local elites
- Inadequate implementation of welfare schemes
- Tribal Issues
- Encroachment on tribal land and forests
- Restrictive forest laws
- Exploitation by outsiders (contractors, moneylenders)
- Geographical Factors
- Dense forests, hilly terrains enable guerrilla warfare.
- Borders of multiple states → administrative vacuum.
- Maoist Strategy and Tactics
- Guerrilla warfare
- Ambushes and IED attacks
- Targeting infrastructure (roads, telecom towers)
- Extortion from contractors and businesses
- Operating through People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA)
- Government Response to LWE
- Security Measures
- Operation Green Hunt (intensified offensive)
- Deployment of CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, and state police
- Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF Scheme)
- Unified Command in worst-affected states
- Developmental Measures
- Aspirational Districts Programme
- Integrated Action Plan (IAP) / Special Central Assistance
- Improved road connectivity (PMGSY LWE Roads)
- Banking, telecom, and education infrastructure in remote areas
- Rights-Based Measures
- Forest Rights Act (2006)
- PESA Act
- Rehabilitation & surrender policies for Maoists
- Recent Initiatives
- National Policy & Action Plan (2015) aimed at:
- Security + Development + Good Governance
- Use of drones, technology, and real-time intelligence
- Decline of LWE
According to recent government data:
- LWE incidents and deaths have reduced by over 70% in the last decade.
- Number of worst-affected districts reduced from 90+ to less than 50.
- Many top Maoist leaders neutralised; cadre recruitment weakened.
Reasons for decline:
- Better road connectivity, strong local policing
- Improved developmental footprint
- Declining ideological appeal
- Internal factionalism within Maoist groups
- Community participation and surrenders
- Challenges That Remain
- Strong Maoist bases in South Bastar (Chhattisgarh)
- Difficult terrain and forest cover
- Tribal grievances still present
- Slow development in remote pockets
- Maoist expansion attempts in new regions (Kerala–Karnataka–TN tri-junction)
- Environmental & Tribal Angle
- Many Maoist-affected areas are mineral-rich tribal regions → conflict over natural resources.
- Issues of displacement, land rights, and environmental degradation fuel resentment.
- Development projects often lack adequate rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R).