‘Naxal-free India’: Govt shares ‘historic milestone’ after six decades of violence | India News

NEW DELHI: The government on Friday highlighted what it described as a major milestone in India’s fight against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), stating that the country became effectively free from Naxalism on March 31, 2026 after decades of insurgency-related violence.The outcome, the government claimed, was the result of sustained efforts over the past 12 years that combined security operations, development initiatives, welfare programmes and rehabilitation measures. The approach also included technology-driven interventions aimed at strengthening intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordination among agencies. Authorities said these measures led to a decline in violence, encouraged cadres to surrender and helped improve access to infrastructure and public services in affected areas.For nearly six decades, Left-Wing Extremism remained a significant challenge in several parts of the country, particularly in remote and tribal regions. The conflict affected millions of people, with many areas witnessing prolonged violence and limited access to development and government services.Reflecting on the government’s commitment to internal peace, Minister Rai stated, “India has become completely free of Naxalism as of April 2026.” He highlighted that this achievement is the result of a sustained, zero-tolerance strategy against extremism.The movement traces its origins to the Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal in 1967 and drew inspiration from Maoist ideology and the concept of armed revolution. Over time, several extremist groups operated across different regions before merging under the banner of the CPI (Maoist) in 2004. The organisation subsequently emerged as the principal face of the insurgency and came to be regarded as one of India’s most serious internal security challenges.Official data show that the period between 2004 and 2014 was among the most violent phases of the conflict. Violence peaked in 2010, when 1,936 incidents were recorded and 720 civilians were killed. During the decade, there were 17,542 incidents of violence, resulting in the deaths of 1,913 security personnel and 5,019 civilians.The government noted that responses to the insurgency during this period were often fragmented, with states pursuing different approaches. In 2009, the Centre described Naxalism as the country’s biggest internal security challenge, citing its geographical spread across large parts of central and eastern India.When the present government assumed office in May 2014, the Red Corridor continued to pose a major security concern. According to the government, earlier responses had largely focused on containing incidents rather than addressing underlying issues linked to security, governance and development.Subsequently, a broader strategy was adopted that combined security measures with development projects, welfare interventions, improved infrastructure, intelligence-led operations and rehabilitation schemes for surrendered cadres. The government said the approach contributed to a sustained reduction in violence and the shrinking influence of Left-Wing Extremist groups across affected regions.The declaration made on 31 March 2026 marks the government’s assessment that Left-Wing Extremism no longer poses the scale of threat it once did, bringing to a close a chapter that shaped India’s internal security discourse for decades.