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The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Why Maoists are on the wane in the once-dreaded Red Corridor
Once considered a formidable internal security threat, Maoist insurgency has shrunk from controlling the vast Red Corridor to just 18 districts of the country. The underlying factors are not only the targeted development schemes and sustained counterinsurgency operations, but also internal rifts, ideological rigidity, leadership crises, and alienation of support base, according to security experts and the surrendered members of the outfit. At its peak in the late 2000s, the Red Corridor spanned nearly 180 districts, encompassing a large part of India's population. However, official statistics shows the scale of decline: the incidents of Left-Wing Extremism dropped by more than 50% between 2004-14 and 2014-23, with fatalities falling by nearly 70%. Naxal-related violence had peaked at 1,936 incidents in 2010, but plummeted to 374 by 2024, while deaths dropped from 1,005 to 150. A close examination of Dandakaranya by security experts – a forested expanse covering parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra that was treated by Maoists as their de facto capital for over two decades – indicated some possible reasons behind their waning influence. As disclosed by several surrendered Naxal leaders, the outfit prioritised military preparedness and ideological indoctrination over any tangible development in the regions it controlled, and the very communities which it claimed to be championing suffered. In the recent past, the outfit has reportedly been facing a leadership crisis. The resignation of Muppala Lakshmana Rao, known as Ganapathy, in 2018 is considered to be the turning point. He was succeeded by Basava Raju, but the crisis deepened. He leaned heavily on military offensives rather than 'political outreach and civil engagement', alienating the support base. In May 2025, he was among the Maoists gunned down by security forces in the Maad region of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur. The CPI (Maoist), through its Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, said that Raju's death was a result of betrayal from within, including the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army Company No. 7 that was responsible for his security. While the reported internal rifts have been crucial, operations by security forces have accelerated the collapse of the outfit. The killing of Maoists in Narayanpur during the 21-day-long exercise, hailed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism, dealt yet another blow to the outfit. Security agencies have reasons to believe that the outfit's decision-making body, Politburo, has now just four active members: Muppala Lakshmana Rao aka Ganapathy, Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Abhay, Deo Kumar Singh alias Deoji, and Misir Besra. Ideologically, the outfit is said to be losing its relevance with the younger peasants and tribals increasingly focused on education, employment, and integration into mainstream society. In his Mann Ki Baat address last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about one Om Prakash Sahu from Gumla in Jharkhand, which was once infested with Naxal activities. '…Om Prakash Sahu ji left the path of violence. He started fish farming. Then he inspired many friends like himself to do the same,' said Mr. Modi, adding that over 150 families of Basia block in Gumla have joined fish farming. Several surrendered leaders and members have advocated shunning of violence. Ginugu Narsimha Reddy, a former Central Committee member who surrendered along with his wife in December 2017, has spoken about finding peaceful solutions. He has also highlighted differences within Maoist groups. The internal disputes, underscored by the surrendered Maoists, are said to be compounded with the outfit being isolated politically.
New Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Maoist leader Sri Vidya arrested in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Miyapur police arrested Maoist leader Narla Sri Vidya, a senior state committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit and a member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and Eastern Division Committee (EDC), from New Hafeezpet in Hyderabad on Thursday. Sri Vidya alias Karuna alias Rupa alias Rupi, who carries a `5 lakh bounty announced by the Telangana government, is a native of Tirumalapuram in Pedda Kothapally mandal of Nagarkurnool district. A BTech graduate from JNTU Hyderabad, she belongs to a family with links to the Maoist movement. Her brother Narla Ravi Sharma was arrested in 2009, while her sister Sridevi was also involved with the Maoists. Her husband T Vasudeva Rao alias Ashanna, a state committee member of DKSZC, is wanted for his alleged role in the assassination of IPS officer Umesh Chandra and the Alipiri blast case.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Top Maoist leader Narla Sri Vidya arrested in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD Miyapur police arrested one of the most wanted Maoist leaders, Narla Sri Vidya, from New Hafeezpet, on Thursday. She is a State Committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist) party and also part of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and EDC. According to police, the arrest was made following credible intelligence inputs. Sri Vidya has been underground for years and was actively involved in promoting Maoist ideology across tribal regions of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Originally from Tirumalapuram village in Nagarkurnool district, Sri Vidya completed her from JNTU, Hyderabad. She comes from a family with deep links to the Maoist movement. Her brother Narla Ravi Sharma was arrested in 2009 for Maoist activities, while her sister Narla Sridevi also worked for the outfit. She is married to Takkallapally Vasudeva Rao, alias Ashanna or Satish, a State Committee Member of DKSZC who is the prime accused in the assassination of IPS officer Umesh Chandra and the Alipiri blast case. Sri Vidya joined the then CPI (ML), PWG in 1992, allegedly influenced by her brother. She began her work with Chaitanya Mahila Samakhya, a frontal organisation, and formally joined the banned CPI (Maoist) in 2006. Over the years, she rose through the ranks from Area Committee Member (ACM) to District Committee Member (DCM), and eventually to the position of State Committee Member (SCM). Police said that she played a significant role in spreading Maoist propaganda among tribal children and youth in Vishakapatnam, Malkangiri and Koraput districts. Her activities reportedly led to the recruitment of numerous Adivasi youth from Narayanpur, Kanker, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh into the banned outfit. She is also named in a criminal conspiracy case registered in 2019 at L.B. Nagar police station. A reward of ₹5 lakh had been announced by the Telangana government for information leading to her arrest. Further investigation is on.
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
66 Maoists, Rs 2.54 crore bounty, 5 districts and a single-day surrender in Bastar
As many as 66 Maoists, including 49 with a combined bounty of Rs 2.54 crore, surrendered before the police in five districts of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Thursday. With this, the total number of surrendered Maoists in the last 18 months, which saw an unprecedented number of anti-Maoist operations, rose to 1,570 — a significant increase when compared to the 2022-2023 period, when 813 had surrendered. Thursday's surrenders come amid a new initiative from the security forces, called 'Poona Margham', a Gondi term that means 'new path'. Under this initiative, the security forces will focus more on reaching out to families of Maoists for help in persuading them to surrender. The seniormost Maoist cadre to surrender on Thursday was 37-year-old Ramanna Irpa, alias Jagdish, alias Vikesh, who was a Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh. A resident of Basaguda in Bijapur district, Ramanna had been active for two decades and has at least 30 cases against him, including murders. On the effort that went into getting him to surrender, a police source said, 'We were trying to get him to surrender for three months. We had contacted his family and were persuading them to get him to surrender, and finally, he surrendered with his family's help.' Giving credit to the Poona Margham initiative for the large number of surrenders on Thursday, Inspector General of Police for Bastar range, Sundarraj P, said, 'Our repeated appeals to Maoist cadres to give up violence and return to the mainstream are showing encouraging results. The surrender of 66 cadres, including a state-level committee member, across five districts in a single day is a strong indication that the Naxal outfit is approaching its end.' Bijapur SP Jitendra Yadav said, 'With the establishment of new security camps in interior regions and improved access to roads, transport, drinking water, electricity, and other public welfare schemes, development is now reaching the remotest villages. Widespread disillusionment with Maoist ideology, increasing internal conflicts within the outfit, and a strong desire to live a peaceful and secure family life are among the primary reasons behind these surrenders.' While surrendering with weapons makes the cadres eligible for cash rewards, a senior officer said none of the 66 had done so. 'None of them surrendered with weapons. They never surrender with weapons as they fear their families will be targeted by Maoists, which has happened in the past,' the officer said. The surrendered cadres include one DKSZC member, four divisional committee members, 10 People's Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) cadres, 15 area committee members, seven local organisation squad members, and 29 other rank cadres.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Two Maoist leaders surrender after four decades underground; Telangana Police hail major success
HYDERABAD: Two senior CPI (Maoist) leaders, Mala Sanjeev alias Lengu Dada and his wife Perugula Parvathi alias Bontala Parvathi alias Deena, surrendered before Rachakonda Police Commissioner on Thursday, marking the end of over four decades of underground life. Mala Sanjeev alias Lengu Dada (62), originally from Medchal–Malkajgiri district, worked as a key figure in the Maoist cultural wing and later in armed squads. He started his Maoist journey in 1980 with Jana Natya Mandali under revolutionary balladeer Gaddar, organising cultural programs to spread the ideology. Over the years, he served as Division Committee Member, State Committee Member, and finally as Secretariat Member of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). His wife, Perugula Parvathi (50), from Nagarkurnool district, joined the movement in 1992. She initially worked in armed dalams in the Nallamala region before shifting to propaganda activities. Rising through the ranks, she became a State Committee Member in 2018 and played an active role in mobilising tribal communities in Chhattisgarh. The couple, who escaped several encounters during their underground years, decided to surrender, influenced by the Telangana government's rehabilitation schemes. Police hailed the surrender as a major success of their outreach and appealed to other Maoists to 'shun violence and return to their villages.' Officials assured that surrendered cadres would receive full benefits to lead a dignified life.
