A Major Blow to Naxalism: The Dawn of a New Era
—Lalit Gargg—
Naxalism is now in its final phase, and this significant achievement and transformation is neither accidental nor sudden. It is the result of the well-planned, firm, and comprehensive strategies implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The menace that had bled the heartland of India for decades, the ideology that held development, security, and human sensitivity hostage, now stands on the verge of complete extinction. The most recent and striking evidence of this is the elimination of the country’s most dangerous, ruthless, and strategically powerful Maoist commander—Madvi Hidma. His very name had long instilled fear not only among security forces but also within the entire administrative system. Born in the Sukma region, Hidma was a member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and the head of the Battalion-1 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Almost every major Naxal attack in the past two decades—from the 2010 Dantewada massacre to the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack—was believed to have been masterminded by him. For years, he ruled the Dandakaranya region with terror and was responsible for several deadly ambushes, including the Darbha Ghati massacre. Such was his infamy that a reward of ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore had been announced on his head.
On 18 November 2025, in a precisely executed and exceptionally brave operation by security forces, Hidma, his wife Raje, and six other Maoists were neutralised. The recovery of AK-47 rifles, pistols, and other weapons from the spot confirms that this operation was a decisive strike on the backbone of Naxalism. Hidma’s end is not merely symbolic—it is a strategic turning point that has shaken the Naxal network at its core. Activities in what was once known as the ‘Red Corridor’ have significantly shrunk, indicating that the dual strategy of security and development adopted by the central government has begun producing real results on the ground. Under the “Naxal-Mukt Bharat” campaign, 300 Naxalites were killed this year, while hundreds surrendered or were arrested. These figures clearly show that Naxalism has now lost its ideological and organisational strength. The recent mass surrenders in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra within just two days reveal that Naxal groups are losing ground even in their traditional strongholds, while tribal communities are gradually moving toward the benefits of government development schemes. The elimination of Hidma has created an irreplaceable vacuum within the Maoist leadership.
Like terrorism, Naxalism has long been one of India’s most complex internal security challenges. Just as cross-border terrorism threatens national peace and stability, Naxalism—born within—has consistently obstructed the nation-building process. For decades, it was not only a concern for a few states but for the entire country. Today, however, India stands at a turning point indicating that Naxalism is indeed nearing its end. The persistent successes of recent years—the elimination of top commanders, large-scale surrenders, and rapid development in affected areas—prove that the nation is moving toward a new dawn. It is a dawn that promises freedom from fear, violence, and backwardness, and paves the way for enduring peace and accelerated progress.
The roots of Naxalism lay in the social and economic inequalities that emerged after independence—land disputes, exploitation, and the neglect of tribal regions. Development never reached several remote areas; government schemes remained on paper, and local communities deeply distrusted the administration. This environment provided fertile ground for Naxal groups to propagate their ideology. They embraced the path of violence in the name of class struggle and armed revolution, using the forests as shields and drawing tribal youth into their fold. Over time, the movement drifted from ideology to a nexus of terror, extortion, exploitation, and bloodshed. Attacks on security forces, obstruction of development work, blowing up schools and bridges, using tribals as human shields, and their hunger for power—this became the true face of Naxalism.
Through the efforts of Modi and Shah, not only has the fight against Naxalism been intensified, but development projects in these regions have also been implemented on an unprecedented scale. Significant progress has been made in building roads, establishing electricity connections, and expanding mobile networks, weakening the hold of Naxal groups. According to government data, since 2014 more than 12,000 km of roads have been constructed in Naxal-affected areas, over a thousand new bank branches have been opened, and extensive work has been done in skill development. These coordinated efforts have uprooted Naxalism from its foundation.
The killing of Madvi Hidma—a ruthless and strategically vital leader—is equivalent to breaking the spine of the Naxal movement. He was the chief brain behind their military strategies, and his image had long posed a psychological challenge to security forces. The diminishing of Naxalism is not only due to well-executed security operations but also because of strong political will. When the government declared its resolve to create a “Naxal-Free India,” a multilayered strategy was adopted. On one hand, security forces were strengthened with modern technology, better training, and accurate intelligence; on the other, development was accelerated through roads, schools, hospitals, telecom connectivity, and livelihood programmes. The combined force of development and security proved decisive in weakening the roots of Naxalism.
The new dawn emerging before the nation signifies far more than the silencing of guns. It means that regions left behind for decades will now join the national mainstream. Investments will increase; education and healthcare will strengthen; tourism and local industries will flourish; and people will finally live without fear. The decline of Naxalism sends a powerful message: India’s democratic system is stronger than any violent ideology. Attempts to seize power through weapons, terror, and intimidation are ultimately doomed to failure. The ongoing collapse of the Naxal movement makes this truth even clearer. However, the complete eradication of Naxalism cannot rely solely on military action. It is necessary that development efforts continue consistently, tribal communities are empowered, local culture and resources are respected, and the administrative system becomes transparent and sensitive. With such continuity, the resurgence of Naxalism becomes impossible.
The near-end of Naxalism is not just a security triumph for India—it is a historic turning point. It marks the conclusion of a struggle in which thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives, millions of citizens endured decades of fear, and the nation paused its development to prioritize security. Today, as Naxalism collapses, this is not merely a government victory—it is the collective victory of India. It is the dawn of a new nation—peaceful, secure, progressive, and self-confident. A dawn that will illuminate the future of generations to come
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