Security forces in Chhattisgarh have declared a decisive advantage in the final phase of the government's campaign to eradicate left-wing extremism, following a day of significant blows to the Maoist insurgency. The state's police leadership has asserted that the end of Naxalism is in sight, urging remaining insurgents to lay down their arms.
A Day of Major Setbacks for Maoists
The confident assessment from authorities came on Saturday, January 4, 2026, a day marked by two critical developments. Fourteen Maoists were killed in two separate major encounters in the Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh. In a parallel and significant psychological blow, Barsa Deva, a top commander of Battalion 1 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), surrendered before authorities in the neighboring state of Telangana.
These events occur less than three months before the March 2026 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2024 for the eradication of Naxalism from India. Chhattisgarh Additional Director General of Police (Naxal operations) Vivekanand Sinha stated that security forces now hold the "upper hand."
"Naxal problem will end," Sinha told The Indian Express. "We are in a very good position and have the upper hand. The morale of our forces is very high. We appeal to those still holding arms to drop their weapons and return to the mainstream."
Crippling Blows to the Maoist Leadership in 2025
The recent encounters and surrender are part of a broader pattern of severe losses inflicted on the Maoist structure throughout the past year. Police data reveals a strategic decapitation of the insurgent leadership.
In 2025 alone, security forces gunned down 10 Central Committee Members (CCMs) across Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. This list includes the high-profile commander Hidma. Furthermore, five members of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), the highest state-level body for Maoists in Chhattisgarh, were eliminated.
This year also saw the killing of general secretary Basava Raju in May, compounding the crisis for the banned outfit. Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, provided comprehensive statistics highlighting the campaign's intensity.
Since the anti-insurgency campaign began in 2024, over 500 Maoists have been killed. A detailed breakdown for 2024-2025 shows:
- 223 encounters between security forces and Maoists.
- 473 Maoists gunned down.
- 1,827 Maoists arrested.
- 2,365 Maoists surrendered.
Security Gains and the Human Cost
The offensive has yielded a record haul of weaponry, severely denting the Maoists' military capacity. Recoveries in 2025 included:
- 42 AK-47 rifles
- 3 INSAS Light Machine Guns (LMGs)
- 39 Self Loading Rifles (SLRs)
- 47 INSAS rifles and 7 carbines
- Numerous Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
To consolidate control and deny space to insurgents, authorities have established 88 new police camps over the past two years in the previously vulnerable districts of Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Sukma.
However, the conflict has extracted a heavy toll. Officials reported that 42 security personnel lost their lives in IED blasts during this period. Tragically, 117 civilians were also killed in Maoist violence, underscoring the persistent danger in the region.
As the March deadline approaches, the Chhattisgarh police's message is one of unwavering resolve, combining sustained military pressure with calls for surrender, in what they describe as the final chapter of a decades-long conflict.
