India Declares Maoist Insurgency Nearing End

India has reached a pivotal milestone in its decades-long battle against Maoist insurgency, with officials declaring the movement on the brink of extinction as the government-set deadline of March 31, 2026, passed. In the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, once the epicenter of the conflict, security forces reported significant surrenders and recoveries, signaling a dramatic weakening of the insurgents' structure.

Over the past month in Bastar Division, 170 Maoist cadres, including senior figures such as Bastar Range cadre DKSZCM Paparao and multiple DVCM-level members, have surrendered and rejoined mainstream society, according to Inspector General of Police Sundarraj Pattilingam. These defections, facilitated through rehabilitation programs like Poona Margham, have led to the recovery of more than 343 weapons, including AK-47s, INSAS rifles, SLRs, BGL launchers, and LMGs. Additionally, forces seized Rs 6.75 crore in cash and eight kilograms of gold valued at over Rs 12 crore, underscoring the erosion of the group's financial networks. On the deadline's eve, 34 rebels surrendered across southern Bastar districts, yielding 105 weapons, while a major cache in Bijapur—containing Rs...