Naxalite Violence Curbed in Bihar

Bihar has witnessed a significant decline in Naxalite activities over recent years, thanks to the concerted efforts of the government and security forces. The Naxalite movement, which took root in the early 1970s, had engulfed various districts of Bihar by the year 2000, leading to numerous violent incidents including attacks on police stations and the murder of police personnel. Between 2000 and 2012, 22 districts in Bihar were severely affected by Naxalite activities. In response, the government launched extensive anti-Naxalite campaigns, resulting in the arrest and encounter of many top Naxalite leaders, thereby weakening their operations.

Strategic Shift in Bihar Police’s Anti-Naxalite Operations

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In recent years, the Bihar police have revamped their strategy against the Naxalites. Eleven Forward Operative Bases (FOBs) and camps have been established in the Naxalite strongholds, located deep within forests and on hilltops. These bases include locations like Laugarahi, Teri, Pacharukhiya, Nagobar, Sonadaha, Kanchanpur, Choramara, Paisra, Ghatwari, Piribazar, and Karailee. These FOBs have played a crucial role in dismantling the hideouts of Naxalites, thereby extending the influence and control of the police in these regions.

Northern Bihar Declared Naxal-Free

A major breakthrough was achieved in northern Bihar in 2023 with the arrest of Zonal Commander Rambabu Ram alias Rajan alias Prahar, and Rambabu Paswan alias Dheeraj, along with two AK-47 rifles. This marked the end of significant Naxalite activities in the region.

Significant Decline in Naxalite Activities in Southern Bihar

In the Jamui-Munger-Lakhisarai area, the surrender of Maoists Arjun Koda, Baleshwar Koda, and Nageshwar Koda, along with the encounters that led to the deaths of Jagdish Koda, Birendra Koda, and Matlu Turi, have contributed to a steep decline in Naxalite activities. Furthermore, the arrest of Maoists Pintu Rana, Karuna, Vidyo Koda, Bablu Santhal, Shree Koda, and Sunil Marandi has further weakened their presence in the region.

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In the Magadh region, the arrest of three Central Committee Members of the Maoists—Pramod Mishra, Mithilesh Mehta, and Vijay Kumar Arya—along with other key Naxalites such as Vinay Yadav alias Murad, Arvind Bhuinya, and Abhijit Yadav, has led to a significant reduction in Naxalite activities. Currently, no active Naxalite squads are operating in these areas.

Achievements of Anti-Naxalite Campaigns

The anti-Naxalite campaigns in 2023-24 have yielded substantial results. Security forces have seized a large cache of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and IEDs from Naxalite strongholds. This includes 52 firearms (10 of which were previously stolen from police), 10,901 cartridges, 1,798 kg of explosives, 17,534 detonators, 372 landmines/can bombs, and ₹4,07,030 in levy money. Additionally, 154 top Naxalites have been arrested.

Positive Impact of Surrender and Rehabilitation Programs

The government’s surrender and rehabilitation programs have had a positive impact. In 2023, six top Naxalites surrendered to the police, influenced by these policies. There has been a noticeable decline in the appeal of Naxalite ideology, and no new recruits have been reported joining the movement.

Targeting Naxalite Revenue Sources

From December 2023 to March 2024, the police destroyed opium crops planted by Naxalites across 2,523.40 acres in Gaya district. The police have also taken legal action against complaints of levy demands by Naxalites from businesses and construction companies.

Peaceful Lok Sabha Elections and Infrastructure Development

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections were conducted peacefully without any Naxalite-related incidents. There were no reports of election boycotts by Naxalites, and several polling stations previously shifted due to Naxalite threats were reinstated.

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The reduction in Naxalite activities has facilitated infrastructure development in Left-wing extremism-affected areas. This includes the construction of 128 roads and the installation of 93 mobile towers, with an additional 35 towers nearing completion. Security forces have identified 232 villages in Naxalite-affected areas for development proposals to improve education, health, and public amenities.

From 2019 to 2022, 25 civilians were killed by armed Naxalites. However, no such incidents have been reported in 2023 and up to June 2024. These achievements, supported by effective policies, the bravery of security forces, and public cooperation, indicate that Bihar is now free from organized armed Naxalite groups. Currently, only a few small Naxalite groups are active in the Bihar-Jharkhand border areas. To counter this, two new FOBs are being constructed on the Bihar-Jharkhand border, and continuous patrolling is being carried out by the Bihar police.

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