Naxal

It must be recalled that until 2015, around 106 districts were marked naxal-affected. By 2024, this number came down to 38 and now to 18. Of these, 12 were most naxal-affected, however, this number has further dropped to just 6.

The efforts made by the authorities in the LWE-affected areas have also resulted in the surrender of numerous Naxals.

Earlier, security forces took control of a Maoist training camp in the core area of PLGA Battalion No. 01 in the dense forests of Bhattiguda, Bijapur district. The camp was left abandoned by the Maoists, who fled during the army's search operation.

Chhattisgarh is the only state in India where Maoists maintain a significant presence and the ability to launch large-scale attacks.

Security forces have intensified anti-naxal operations in the Bastar division following the January 6 IED attack on a vehicle of security forces in which 8 security personnel and a driver was killed.

The surrendered Naxals were carrying a collective bounty of Rs 1.03 crore and were involved in attacking security personnel.

As per the agency, a total of 210 accused were arrested across key categories of crimes in 80 cases registered by the NIA in 2024. Of these cases, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and North East insurgency topped the list at 28 and 18 cases respectively.

In a major crackdown on left wing terrorism, security personnel killed 31 Naxals in the Maad area on the Narayanpur-Dantewada border in a two-day operation, the police said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted a key Naxal leader in the banned outfit's Magadh Zone revival case, the agency said on Saturday.

 Following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement to free the country from naxalism by March 2026, four battalions of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) comprising 4000 CRPF personnel are set to be depolyed in Bastar for anti-insurgency operations.