Centre Orders Final Anti-Naxal Assault Ahead of March 31 Deadline

With the national deadline of March 31 approaching, India’s security forces have launched a decisive operation to eliminate the remaining armed Maoist cadres, marking a critical phase in the country’s anti-Naxal campaign. Official sources told PTI that the Centre is simultaneously preparing a comprehensive “operations and development” blueprint. This post-March 31 plan is expected to announce the phased withdrawal of around five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) battalions from affected regions while rolling out multiple welfare schemes to support local development and rehabilitation.

As part of the ongoing operation, three to four CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are being redeployed from Chhattisgarh to Jharkhand’s Saranda forests in West Singhbhum district to undertake targeted actions against armed Maoist groups. Additional CRPF, Border Security Force (BSF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) teams are being repositioned in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region to either engage militants in combat or secure their surrender.

Sources also indicated that coordinated cross-border operations involving Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Odisha are in the works to ensure a comprehensive approach against Naxalite strongholds. “The objective is complete neutralisation of armed Naxals by the March 31 deadline, either through successful encounters or induced surrenders,” officials said, citing the target set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Also Read: JSW Motors Partners Dassault Systemes to Accelerate EV, PHEV Development in India

The Naxalite movement, which began in 1967 in Naxalbari, West Bengal, has long posed a challenge to internal security, particularly in dense forested regions across central and eastern India. The current operation represents one of the most ambitious efforts to end left-wing extremism and restore state control in affected districts, combining tactical military engagement with planned development initiatives for long-term peace and stability.

Officials emphasized that the operation will be accompanied by post-conflict development schemes to integrate former militants and bolster local communities, reflecting a dual strategy of security enforcement and socio-economic upliftment.

Also Read: Russia Denies Western Claims of Supplying Drones, Intelligence to Iran