12. Evolution of Anti-Maoist Strategy: Continuity and Consistency in Internal Security

K. Vijay Kumar, former senior security adviser to the Union Home Ministry and former DG of the CRPF, has highlighted that India’s approach to tackling Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) has maintained a \'broadly consistent\' trajectory across different political regimes. While the period between 2006 and 2009 was identified as the most challenging, the strategic foundation laid by previous administrations has been met with a resolute push and greater vigour in recent years, aiming for complete eradication by March 31, 2026. Key Summary Points for UPSC • Political Continuity in Strategy: The handling of the Maoist threat has seen a rare bipartisan consensus, moving from recognizing it as the \'foremost internal security threat\' in 2006 to the current mission-mode eradication deadline. • Institutional Strengthening post-2010: Following the Dantewada ambush (2010), there was a significant shift toward centrally assisted funding, the fortification of police stations, and the creation of a dedicated intelligence wing for the CRPF in 2011. • The \'Patch Force\' Concept: To overcome jurisdictional hurdles, the CRPF was reorganized as a \'patch force\' capable of operating across state borders, effectively acting as the primary face of governance in administrative vacuums. • Empowering Local Administration: Significant discretionary funds were provided to District Collectors in LWE-affected zones to improve mobility and community-oriented infrastructure, which served as a counter-narrative to Maoist propaganda. • Specialized Tribal Units: A strategic push in 2014-15 focused on training local tribal youth and surrendered cadres into discreet special forces, leveraging their terrain knowledge while addressing historical stigmas associated with irregular militias. • Demographics of Insurgency: Experts note the specialized roles within Maoist ranks, where \'child wings\' are utilized for observation and \'women cadres\' are often found to be more rigorously trained than their male counterparts. Additional Important Keypoints • Counter-PsyOps: Security officials argue that a vast majority of human rights allegations are part of a sophisticated psychological operation (PsyOps) by insurgents to demoralize security forces. • The Governance Vacuum: In many remote areas, CRPF camps initially served as the only point of contact for government services, including the disbursement of cash and basic welfare via helicopters. • Tactical Evolution: The transition from defensive fortification to offensive, intelligence-led operations has been the defining feature of the past decade. Constitutional & Legal Provisions • Article 355: Imposes a duty on the Union to protect every State against internal disturbance; this provides the constitutional basis for the Centre deploying CAPFs like the CRPF in LWE-affected States. • Seventh Schedule (Entry 1 & 2): While \'Public Order\' and \'Police\' are State subjects (List II), the \'Armed Forces of the Union\' fall under the Union List (List I), necessitating the \'cooperative federalism\' approach in anti-Maoist operations. • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967: The primary legal instrument used to ban Maoist organizations and prosecute individuals involved in subversive activities against the state. • Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996: A crucial legal tool for the government to win back tribal trust by ensuring self-governance and control over resources in \'Red Corridor\' districts. Definition of Key Words • Left-Wing Extremism (LWE): An umbrella term for various militant groups (Maoists/Naxalites) that aim to overthrow the existing democratic state through armed revolution. • Red Corridor: The region in the eastern, central, and southern parts of India that experiences considerable LWE activity. • Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy: A state-led framework offering financial incentives and vocational training to insurgents who lay down arms to reintegrate into mainstream society. • Distant-Water Fleets (Contextual Analogy): In security terms, this refers to the \'Distant-Area Operations\' where forces operate far from their permanent bases in deep forest interiors. Conclusion The trajectory of India’s anti-Maoist campaign proves that internal security is a long-term institutional endeavor that transcends electoral cycles. The success of the current 2026 deadline depends not just on kinetic military action, but on the continued integration of local communities into the security architecture. As the Maoist influence shrinks into smaller pockets, the challenge shifts from \'containment\' to \'sustainable development\' and the permanent filling of the governance vacuum. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper III (Internal Security): Linkages between development and spread of extremism; Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. • GS Paper II (Governance): Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.