Page 24 - NIS English 16-30 April, 2026

COVER STORY | Naxal-Free India

torate (ED) cracked down heavily on those involved in
financing Naxal activities. Furthermore, strict measures
were implemented to curb the Naxalites’ network of In just the past year alone, more than
“Urban Naxal” support, legal assistance, and the crafting 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered;
of media narratives. Targeted actions were initiated over 900 arrests have been made; and
against members of the Central Committee. Targeted security forces have neutralized more
operations, such as ‘Operation Octopus’ and ‘Operation than 300 hardline Naxalites those who
Double Bull’, were executed. Joint training programmes were unwilling to lay down their arms.
were also launched for the DRG, STF, CRPF, and COBRA The result of this is that areas once
forces, enabling these four agencies to conduct joint
operations. Concurrently, forensic investigations were forced to live under the shadow of fear
initiated, location tracking systems were deployed, and are today being infused with a new
data regarding mobile phone activity were made avail- energy of development.
able to the state police. Software for scientific call log
analysis was developed, and social media analysis was Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
utilised to identify their covert supporters. These mea-
sures not only accelerated the anti-Naxal operations bilitation policies. Conducted through inter-agency
but also yielded concrete results. cooperation, these operations achieved unprecedent-
ed success in dismantling the Maoist network and
NAXAL-FREE INDIA – A LANDMARK DATE restoring peace in the affected regions. This marks the
March 31, 2026, has emerged as a landmark date first instance in which a government set a definitive
in the history of India. To achieve this objective, a deadline to completely eradicate such challenges and
multi-pronged strategy was adopted. This strategy en- successfully delivered on that promise. In April 2025,
compassed relentless operations by security forces, Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically stated
comprehensive development initiatives, and reha- that Naxalism would become a thing of the past

22 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || April 16-30, 2026