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India's Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, has set a target of March 2026 to completely eradicate Maoist activities within the country. He conveyed this ambitious goal during a press briefing in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where he was reviewing the state of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the region. Shah emphasized the need for a decisive and robust strategy to effectively counter the remaining Maoist insurgents, referring to it as the 'final assault.' He asserted that Maoist violence poses a direct threat to India's democratic principles and has resulted in the tragic loss of around 17,000 lives over the years.
Shah's declaration comes on the heels of his previous statement in December 2023, where he asserted that India was on the brink of successfully eliminating Maoist extremism. He cited a significant decrease in Maoist violence over the past decade, pointing to a 52% reduction in incidents, a 70% decline in fatalities, and a decrease in affected districts from 96 to 45. The number of police stations impacted by LWE has also significantly shrunk from 495 to 176. He reiterated these figures during the Raipur briefing, highlighting the positive progress made in tackling the issue.
Shah underscored the government's commitment to filling the security void in LWE-affected areas. He mentioned that security forces have been actively engaged in both counter-insurgency operations and development projects aimed at creating a safer and more prosperous environment for local communities. He further emphasized the collaborative efforts of various agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate, and state and Central Armed Police Forces, working in unison to dismantle Maoist networks.
The Home Ministry established the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Division in 2006 to comprehensively address the issue. The Division plays a crucial role in monitoring the LWE situation, coordinating countermeasures undertaken by affected states, and strengthening state capacity to combat extremism. This is achieved through various initiatives such as the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, the Special Infrastructure Scheme, and Special Central Assistance, as well as by deploying Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in affected regions and assisting state governments in their anti-extremism efforts.
Source: End Of The Line For Maoism By March 2026? Amit Shah Sets Big Target