By The Sampadak Express
A massive military operation launched by Indian security forces in the forested hills of central India has turned the region into what activists are calling a “warzone,” as the government intensifies efforts to dismantle one of the country’s longest-running internal insurgencies.
The ongoing offensive, known as Operation Zero or Kagar, is primarily focused on the Karrigatta Hills forest area that spans the states of Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Over 10,000 security personnel have been deployed in this large-scale crackdown against Maoist insurgents also referred to as Naxals who have maintained a stronghold in the mineral-rich region for decades.
The operation comes under the watch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both the central government and Chhattisgarh state. The BJP has significantly escalated its anti-Maoist stance, aiming to eliminate the insurgent movement once and for all.
So far in 2025 alone, security forces have reportedly killed at least 201 Maoist rebels, including 27 fighters on a single day this week one of whom is believed to be a senior Maoist leader. Since January 2024, over 400 Maoist rebels have been killed in the region, according to official figures.
However, the government’s hardline approach has drawn fierce criticism from human rights groups, civil society organizations, and opposition parties. Many activists claim that innocent Adivasi villagers Indigenous communities who have historically lived in and around these forests are being caught in the crossfire. They accuse security forces of conducting extrajudicial killings and staging encounters under the guise of counterinsurgency operations.
A Protracted Conflict
The Maoist insurgency, which began in the late 1960s and gained ground in the early 2000s, has long been rooted in issues of land rights, displacement, and state neglect of tribal communities. The movement, inspired by Marxist ideology, aims to overthrow the Indian government through armed rebellion and establish a classless society.
According to government data, more than 11,000 people including civilians, security personnel, and insurgents have been killed in the conflict between 2000 and 2024. Police and independent sources estimate that security forces have eliminated over 6,160 Maoist fighters during this period.
While the government argues that the military crackdown is essential for ensuring development and peace in Maoist-affected areas, critics warn that continued violence and displacement will only deepen the alienation of Adivasi communities, who already suffer from economic marginalization, lack of basic services, and loss of ancestral land.
Calls for Dialogue
Prominent civil society leaders and opposition politicians are urging the government to halt the offensive and initiate peace talks with Maoist representatives. They argue that a militarized approach will not resolve the root causes of the insurgency namely poverty, disenfranchisement, and state apathy.“
There can be no lasting peace without justice for the Adivasis,” said one activist based in Bastar, a key Maoist-affected district in Chhattisgarh. “The solution lies not in bullets, but in dialogue, development, and dignity.”
Despite these concerns, the government remains firm in its strategy. Officials insist that neutralizing the Maoist leadership and dismantling their infrastructure is a necessary precursor to lasting peace and development in the region.
As Operation Kagar intensifies, the question remains: Will this forceful campaign bring an end to India’s internal insurgency, or will it further entrench the decades-long divide between the state and its most marginalized citizens?
