New Delhi- With the March 31 deadline approaching, the campaign against Naxalism in India is nearing its concluding phase. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has earlier asserted that the country will be free from Naxal influence by March, stating that insurgents have only two choices — surrender or face elimination.
Officials involved in anti-Naxal operations indicated that the security crackdown has reached its final stage. Intelligence agencies have reported that only two of the four key members of the top Naxalite leadership remain actively involved. The final operations are expected to focus on neutralising or forcing the surrender of these remaining leaders.
The four prominent Naxalite leaders include Thippiri Tirupathi, Muppala Laxman Rao, Misir Besra, and Asim Mondal. According to Intelligence Bureau sources, Tirupathi and Besra are still determined to continue the insurgency. Rao, due to advanced age, is reportedly unable to actively participate in the conflict, while Mondal is believed to have lost interest in continuing the movement. Officials believe that both Rao and Mondal are likely to surrender.
Several members of the Naxalite network have also urged Tirupathi to lay down arms, but he has remained firm in his stance to continue fighting. Security operations are now expected to primarily target Tirupathi and Besra.
Although approximately 200 armed Naxalites are still active, security agencies believe that capturing or neutralising the four senior leaders could trigger the surrender of remaining cadres. Officials note that many lower-level members are not deeply committed to the ideology and were either coerced into joining or motivated by financial incentives, increasing the likelihood of voluntary surrender.
Data suggests that the majority of the remaining armed cadres are located in Chhattisgarh. In states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Telangana, their combined strength is estimated to be around 40 to 50 individuals.
In recent months, intelligence reports revealed attempts to revive the Naxalite movement. Tirupathi reportedly tried to mobilise support among fellow cadres, but the effort failed to gain momentum.
Meanwhile, intelligence agencies have also flagged attempts to reintroduce the Naxalite ideology in urban areas. During a recent protest over pollution in Delhi, banners supporting the movement were reportedly noticed. Officials fear that as insurgent activity weakens in forest regions, efforts may shift towards urban infiltration, including participation in protests to spread ideology and provoke unrest. Authorities are closely monitoring urban networks and investigating financial channels suspected of supporting such activities.
Between 2025 and 2026, security forces achieved significant success against Naxalite groups. Several top leaders, including Basavaraj, were eliminated, while many others surrendered. The surrender of senior Politburo members such as Mallojula Venugopal Rao, Chandranna, Raider, and Rupesh dealt a major blow to the insurgency. Their surrender encouraged several cadres to lay down arms.
Additionally, security forces confiscated large quantities of weapons and ammunition during this period, further weakening the Naxalite movement, officials stated.
With inputs from IANS