No Mast For ‘Red Flag’? Intensified Action Against Naxalism: 30 New Bases, Top Commander Killed in Encounter
The government of India is committed to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. Image courtesy: X.com/@BSF_India
The central government has set an ambitious deadline to eliminate Naxalism from the country by March 2026. As part of this strategy, a comprehensive plan is being rolled out, with security forces ramping up operations in Chhattisgarh, particularly in the Bastar region, which remains a stronghold of Maoist insurgents.
A high-level meeting was held in Raipur on Friday (September 5, 2025) to review and accelerate anti-Naxal operations. Attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, IB Director Tapan Deka, CRPF DG Gyanendra Pratap Singh, and Chhattisgarh DGP Arun Dev Gautam, the meeting focused on intensifying operations.
The meeting underscored the Union government’s commitment to achieving the 2026 deadline.
End naxalism by 2026: What further steps will be taken?
As part of the fresh plan, over 30 new Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) will be established in remote areas of Bastar once the monsoon ends. These bases will allow security forces to push deeper into Maoist-affected zones. The CRPF, along with its elite CoBRA battalion, will spearhead this forward deployment, PTI reported.
The operations will be led primarily by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, known for its jungle warfare capabilities. The District Reserve Guard (DRG) of the Chhattisgarh Police has also been instructed to target the top leadership of Maoist outfits.
2026 deadline to end naxalism: Signs of progress?
According to officials, progress is already visible. At least 230 Naxalites have been killed in operations across Chhattisgarh this year alone. A senior officer indicated that if the current momentum continues, Naxalism could potentially be eradicated even before the deadline, possibly by December 2025 or January 2026.
Over the past few years, approximately 50 FOBs have been established in Naxal-hit areas of Chhattisgarh.
Chaibasa encounter: Hardcore naxal commander dead?
Meanwhile, top Naxal commander Amit Hansda, alias Apatan, alias Chandramohan Hansda, has been killed in an encounter with security forces in the Chaibasa area of West Singhbhum district on Sunday morning. He was carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh.
The operation was carried out jointly by the district police and the COBRA battalion following specific intelligence about the movement of senior CPI (Maoist) leaders in the region. Weapons, including an SLR rifle, have been recovered.
Hansda was a zonal committee member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and was involved in multiple brutal killings and attacks in the Kolhan region. He was accused of the murder of Pratap Hembram in January 2023, the shooting of Charo Purti in May 2023, and the killing of Rodo Surin, alias Dryber, in August 2023.
Earlier in April 2025, 8 Naxals, including a top rung central committee member of the extremists carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, were killed in an encounter with CoBRA commandos of the CRPF and police in Bokaro district of Jharkhand.
