Bastar off MHA's Red list after Chhattisgarh’s decisive battle against Maoists

Anti-Naxal op

The Ministry of Home Affairs has removed Bastar and Kondagaon from the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts, signalling a major shift in Chhattisgarh’s battle against Maoist insurgency, TOI reported. Bastar had been on the LWE-affected districts’ list for at least 25 years. The move comes shortly after the killing of Maoist general secretary Basavaraju and 27 others in an encounter in Narayanpur district.

Once synonymous with violent insurgency and deep-rooted extremism, both Bastar and Kondagaon have now been reclassified as “districts of legacy and thrust” - a designation that reflects a sharp decline in Maoist activity but underlines the need for continued operational vigilance and developmental focus.

“Kondagaon and Bastar are among 30 districts across the country now brought under the ‘districts of legacy and thrust’ category,” Bastar Range Inspector General P Sundarraj was quoted by TOI. “This removes them from the category of LWE-affected regions but they need development and vigilance on the operational front.”

The reclassification comes amidst growing optimism around the effectiveness of sustained anti-Naxal operations and civic engagement. In the 2023 Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Bastar recorded a voter turnout of 84.6% while Kondagaon followed closely at 81.7% — significant figures in regions previously marred by conflict and voter intimidation.

Despite this progress, other parts of the Bastar division remain on high alert. Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur and Kanker continue to be categorised as “most affected LWE districts”, while Dantewada is listed among “other LWE-affected districts.” Meanwhile, districts like Dhamtari, Kabirdham, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai and Rajnandgaon have also been placed under the “legacy and thrust” category - highlighting an evolving security map across the state.

The drop in violence in Bastar and Kondagaon has been palpable. Only one encounter has been reported in Kondagaon in the past five years — an April 16 operation that saw the killing of two senior Maoist commanders.

“Due to effective anti-Naxal operations in recent months, we’ve seen remarkably positive outcomes in the LWE scenario in Bastar Range,” IG Sundarraj was quoted by TOI as saying. “Categorisation of Kondagaon and Bastar as 'districts of legacy' is a significant step closer to being 'Maoist-free'. All our efforts would now be focused on ensuring that Naxal menace is totally eliminated in Bastar Range.”

The MHA’s latest notification lists a total of 18 districts across India under LWE-related categories - either as affected, of concern, or now transitioning. Of these, six are in Chhattisgarh. However, according to sources cited by TOI, no fresh central financial aid has been disbursed for the current fiscal year under LWE-specific schemes.

For years, Bastar has received central funds aimed at strengthening infrastructure and supporting counter-insurgency operations. With the new categorisation, the focus is expected to pivot more strongly toward inclusive development, governance and long-term peace-building.