Operating at 15,000 feet above sea level, drones made in Israel have become the weapon used to fight Maoist insurgency in the Abhujmad forest of Chhattisgarh. These aerial vehicles, with the latest state of the art in surveillance functions, are also recording high-resolution images and videos (in real time) over dense fog and also over night. The data is analyzed by the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) to assist security forces in penetrating the Maoists’ once impregnable areas.
Decisive Strikes Backed by Real-Time Intelligence
NTRO’s intelligence feeds has been invaluable in recent successes. Last week, a joint operation based on these insights led to the elimination of 14 Maoists, including Jairam Reddy alias Chalapati, a senior leader. As stated by a security official of the Union home ministry, the present approach is directed towards the Maoist leadership aiming to overthrow their activities.
Among the key actors on the radar are Nambala Keshava Rao aka Basavaraju, the general secretary, of the CPI (Maoist) bearing a reward of 1 crore rupees on his head. Among the high-priority targets are Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji Madvi Hidma and Katakam Sudarshan. Bounties of ₹40 lakh to ₹1 crore are on offer to a good number of these leaders.
Muppalla Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathy, the former general secretary of the CPI (Maoist), remains a significant figure despite resigning in 2018. A bounty of ₹3 crore on his head continues to pose a threat to the security establishment.
Tactical Advancements and Tribal Support
The Maoist offensive is supported by the special police officers (SPOs) recruitment in Chhattisgarh. These SPOs, many of whom are tribal youngsters possessing intimate knowledge about area or ex-combatants with anti-Maoist sentiment, are having a critical helping role during the operations.
Penetrating previously impassable zones and setting up forward bases inside the thick forests of Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Maharashtra under the aegis of NTRO-supported intelligence is now accessible to security forces. This combined strategy is designed to erode the Maoist apparatus by denying them as well its sustenance and foiling its movement.
The Countdown to 2026
Union home minister Amit Shah has set an ambitious deadline of March 2026 to eradicate Maoism from the country. Officials are hopeful in their ability to achieve this goal, based on stepped up attacks and greater use of special operations. “If the current momentum continues, we hope to largely neutralize the Maoist threat by next year’s deadline, even if complete eradication takes longer,” an official stated.
Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College, Kanker, Chhattisgarh is the operational centre for these activities. High ranking security personnel come to this place to plan and conduct the attacks taking advantage of the college’s proximity to the Maoist dominated Bastar region.
The Strategic Importance of Abhujmad
The Abhujmad forest, which is 3,900 km2 in the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency and has been the mainstay of the Maoists over the years, is now under threat. Intelligence reports suggest the rebels have near-complete control of the region, controlling training camp facilities and having a well-organized structure there.
Continuous operations by the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Chhattisgarh police are gradually breaking down its control. Working together, they are seeking to reassert control of the land and to bring government back to places long ruled by insurgents.
Historical Aspirations Dashed
At the height of their influence, Maoist leaders envisioned Chhattisgarh as the “Yan’an of India,” drawing inspiration from the Chinese city that played a pivotal role in the Chinese Revolution. However, the tide is turning. A home ministry official said, “Their time is up”, highlighting the determination of the Indian government to bring an end to the long-standing, armed insurgency.
Challenges Ahead
However, the battle against Maoism continues to remain challenging in the face of these developments. Dense terrain, plus the Maoists’ intimate familiarity with the region, results in operations that are both complex and risky. Furthermore, the insurgents are still able to leverage the grievances and animus of local populations, adding to the challenge of winning hearts and minds in the territories in conflict.
Yet as the 2026 deadline nears, the government’s integrated approach consisting of frontier technology, ground intelligence, and coordinated force deployment holds out a challenge to one of the most enduring internal security threats of India.
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