Current Affairs Topics Archive
International Relations Economics Polity & Governance Environment & Ecology Science & Technology Internal Security Geography Social Issues Art & Culture Modern History

From bombmaker to Assembly guest: 120 ex-Maoists step into Chhattisgarh’s ‘temple of democracy’

February 28, 2026 5 min read Internal Security Social Issues GS3 (Internal security; Left Wing Extremism; linkages between development and extremism)
On This Page ▼

What Happened

  • 120 former Maoist cadres — including individuals who had carried out violent acts such as bomb-making — visited the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly to observe live parliamentary proceedings as part of the state government's surrender and rehabilitation programme.
  • Among the group were individuals involved in the 2013 Jhiram Valley attack, one of the deadliest Maoist ambushes in Indian history, in which 27 people including senior Congress leaders were killed.
  • The assembly visit was part of a structured rehabilitation initiative to familiarise surrendered Maoists with democratic institutions and governance processes, with the Chief Minister assuring them of a better future under the state's support framework.
  • Seventy-eight of the group were from Sukma district — a former stronghold of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
  • Over 2,500 Maoists have surrendered in the past year and a half under the state's intensified "surrender and rehabilitation" policy, with more than 2,000 surrendering in the year preceding this event.

Static Topic Bridges

Left Wing Extremism in India: Nature and Extent

Left Wing Extremism (LWE), also referred to as Naxalism or the Maoist movement, represents one of India's most significant internal security challenges. The movement traces its roots to the Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal in 1967, when peasants led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal revolted against feudal landlords, inspired by Maoist ideology from China. The Communist Party of India (Maoist), formed in 2004 through the merger of the People's War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre, is the principal Maoist organisation and is designated as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. At its peak, LWE influence spanned a "Red Corridor" covering approximately 90 districts across 10 states; by 2026 the footprint has contracted significantly — to under 30 affected districts, primarily in Chhattisgarh.

  • Bastar region (Chhattisgarh) remains the most operationally active area; districts such as Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Narayanpur have seen the highest LWE violence
  • The MHA annual report categorises districts into Most Affected, Marginally Affected, and Districts of Concern
  • Jhiram Valley massacre (May 25, 2013): 27 killed including Chhattisgarh Congress Chief Nand Kumar Patel and former Union Minister Vidya Charan Shukla; one of the deadliest LWE attacks
  • The government has set a target of eliminating LWE by March 31, 2026 — the current event reflects progress toward that goal

Connection to this news: The assembly visit by individuals from Sukma — formerly among the most violence-affected districts — symbolises the state's claim of dramatically shrinking the operational geography and social base of the Maoist movement.

SAMADHAN Strategy and Counter-LWE Policy

The Union government's SAMADHAN doctrine (Smart Leadership, Aggressive Strategy, Motivation and Training, Actionable Intelligence, Dashboard-Based KPIs, Activity-based fund utilisation, No access to financing, Harnessing technology) articulates the comprehensive counter-LWE framework. It combines security operations (CRPF, CoBRA battalions, state police), developmental measures (road connectivity, telecom, schools, hospitals in affected areas), and rehabilitation programmes. The ASPIRE (Aspirational Districts Programme with Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Engagement) supplements this by targeting socio-economic development in LWE-affected districts.

  • Security Assured Village Development (SVAD) scheme and the Roshni (vocational training) scheme under the MHA are key rehabilitation instruments
  • The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has a specific LWE-affected component for road construction in remote areas — road access is considered critical to reducing LWE influence
  • Chhattisgarh's state rehabilitation policy: surrendered cadres receive ₹10,000/month for three years, skill development support, land (4 decimals urban / 1 acre rural), and housing assistance
  • CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action): specialised CRPF units trained for jungle warfare and counter-Maoist operations in forested terrain

Connection to this news: The state's rehabilitation policy — whose fruits are visible in the assembly visit — operates alongside security operations under the SAMADHAN framework, reflecting the dual-track approach of simultaneous hard security and social reintegration measures.

Linkage Between Development Deficits and Extremism

The Planning Commission's 2008 Expert Group on LWE identified the root causes of Naxalism as: land alienation of tribals, inadequate implementation of Forest Rights Act, denial of minimum wages, displacement without rehabilitation, and poor governance. The tribal belts of central India — where Scheduled Tribe populations are concentrated and where forest rights and resource access disputes are endemic — overlap almost entirely with LWE-affected areas. This is not coincidental: the Maoist movement exploited genuine socio-economic grievances to recruit cadres and build a social base among forest-dwelling communities.

  • Scheduled Tribes constitute approximately 7.5% of India's population (Census 2011) but form the majority in the most LWE-affected districts
  • The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) were enacted to address historical injustices against tribal communities — inadequate implementation of both is cited as fuelling LWE recruitment
  • The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for Tribal Advisory Councils and restricts transfer of tribal land in Scheduled Areas — governance failures in enforcing these provisions contribute to LWE grievances
  • Economic development under the Aspirational Districts Programme (now Viksit Bharat Aspirational Districts) has recorded improvements in education, health, and financial inclusion in former LWE strongholds

Connection to this news: The rehabilitation of surrendered Maoists — and their visit to the legislature — represents the final phase of counter-LWE strategy: reintegrating former combatants into democratic civil society and addressing the alienation that drove them into the movement.

Key Facts & Data

  • Naxalbari uprising: May 1967, Naxalbari village, Darjeeling district, West Bengal
  • CPI (Maoist) formed: 2004; declared a terrorist organisation under UAPA
  • Jhiram Valley attack: May 25, 2013 — 27 killed including senior political leaders
  • LWE-related violence: declined from over 1,000 incidents/year (peak 2009-10) to under 200 incidents/year (2025) — a decline of approximately 80%
  • Chhattisgarh surrenders in ~18 months: over 2,500 cadres; overall since 2022 government: over 2,000
  • State rehabilitation package: ₹10,000/month for 3 years + land + skill development
  • LWE-affected districts (2026 estimate): reduced to under 30 districts from 90+ at peak
  • Government's stated target: LWE-free India by March 31, 2026