What Happened
- With the Centre's March 2026 deadline to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) approaching, CRPF has identified only about 300 active Maoist operatives remaining — concentrated mainly along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border and in pockets of Jharkhand.
- Of these 300, only 4 are Central Committee Members (CCMs): Ganapati, Devuji, Malla Raja Reddy, and Misir Besra — down from 20 CCMs a year ago.
- A massive operation called "KGH 2" was launched with approximately 2,000 security personnel along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, targeting senior operatives including Devuji and Kesa Sodhi in the Nambi and Korgotalu Hills area.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament that LWE violence declined by 88% between 2010 and 2025, with related civilian and security personnel deaths falling 90% — from 1,005 in 2010 to 100 in 2025.
- In 2024, 370 Maoists were neutralised; 2,391 Maoists, OGWs (Over Ground Workers), and sympathisers surrendered; and 1,175 were apprehended.
Static Topic Bridges
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and the Red Corridor
Left Wing Extremism in India refers to the armed Maoist/Naxalite insurgency, which originated in the Naxalbari uprising of 1967 in West Bengal. The CPI (Maoist) — formed in 2004 by the merger of People's War Group and Maoist Communist Centre — is the primary organisation driving the insurgency. The affected region, historically spanning parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, is called the "Red Corridor."
- Insurgency began: Naxalbari, West Bengal, 1967
- CPI (Maoist) formed: 2004
- At peak (circa 2010): violence spanned over 200 districts across 20 states
- MHA's target: Complete elimination of LWE by March 2026
- LWE violence reduction: 88% between 2010 and 2025 (Amit Shah, Parliament, Feb 2026)
- Civilian and security personnel deaths: reduced 90%, from 1,005 (2010) to 100 (2025)
Connection to this news: The KGH 2 operation is a culmination of sustained counter-insurgency pressure that has shrunk the Maoist presence from a multi-state threat to approximately 300 active operatives concentrated in the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border forests — a near-total collapse of organisational capacity ahead of the March 2026 deadline.
CRPF and Paramilitary Counter-Insurgency Architecture
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is India's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It serves as the primary counter-insurgency force for both LWE and militancy operations. Within CRPF, the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) units — raised in 2009 — are specially trained for jungle warfare and anti-Maoist operations. Joint operations between CRPF, state police, and other CAPFs are coordinated through the Anti-Naxal Operations cell under MHA.
- CRPF strength: Over 3.25 lakh personnel (India's largest CAPF)
- CoBRA battalions: Raised 2009, specialised for LWE zones
- Coordination mechanism: Anti-Naxal Operations (ANO) division under MHA
- OGW: Over Ground Worker — civilian support network providing logistics and intelligence to Maoists
- SAC: Special Area Committee — a regional organisational unit of CPI (Maoist)
Connection to this news: The KGH 2 operation, deploying 2,000 CRPF personnel alongside state police in Chhattisgarh-Telangana border forests, exemplifies the joint operations architecture that has systematically dismantled the Maoist command structure — reducing CCMs from 20 to just 4.
Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy for LWE
The Union and state governments run surrender and rehabilitation schemes to encourage Maoist cadres to return to mainstream society. These schemes offer financial incentives, vocational training, education support, and reintegration assistance. The MHA has also directed a shift from "crisis management" to "welfare and development" in LWE-affected areas, asking DGPs to focus on public outreach alongside security operations.
- Bihar's scheme: Surrendering Maoist receives declared reward + Rs 5 lakh incentive + Rs 3.6 lakh vocational training allowance over 36 months + weapon incentives
- MHA directive (January 2026): DGPs asked to shift to welfare and development mode
- DG-IG Conference on LWE: Held in Raipur, November 2025
- Infrastructure push in LWE areas: PMGSY, mobile connectivity, banking under SAMADHAN strategy
Connection to this news: The rehabilitation policy — alongside hard security operations — is credited with driving mass surrenders including 2,391 in 2024. The CRPF's current directive signals a transition from active combat to post-conflict consolidation.
Key Facts & Data
- Active Maoist operatives remaining (Feb 2026): approximately 300
- Central Committee Members (CCMs) remaining: 4 (down from 20)
- LWE violence decline: 88% between 2010 and 2025
- Related deaths decline: 90%, from 1,005 (2010) to 100 (2025)
- 2024 operations: 370 neutralised, 2,391 surrendered, 1,175 apprehended
- Government deadline to eliminate LWE: March 2026
- Operation KGH 2 location: Chhattisgarh-Telangana border (Nambi and Korgotalu Hills)
- Maoist insurgency began: 1967 (Naxalbari, West Bengal)
- CPI (Maoist) formed: 2004