Maoists entered the Dandakaranya Region (DKR) in the early 1980s due to increasing pressure in Andhra Pradesh. The densely forested and rugged terrain and adjoining parts of several states such as Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana made DKR the most suitable ‘rear area’ for the Maoists, with the Bastar division at its center.
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A gradual change
The DKR of the early 1980s was characterized by several peculiarities that favored the Maoists. The geographical remoteness, rugged terrain, marginalized tribal people and the official policy of maintaining tribal belts as exclusive areas were the main factors characterizing the administrative neglect of the region. The governance deficit was the most crucial factor that enabled the Maoists to expand and establish their parallel government.
Moreover, the state’s focus on the extraction economy and the tribal struggle for ‘jal-jungle-zameen’ formed the overall context of the conflict. The setback for Maoism is a result of the civil administration’s invasion of remote areas under Maoist control. The government’s pioneering initiative was the establishment of security camps in the remote areas, regions of former Maoist rule. The first attempts to establish camps were met with local resistance. However, local resistance subsided as a result of the benefits accruing to the local population. The benefits of the new camps are multifaceted.
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Path to progress
First, the camps increased the security footprint in remote areas. An increase in the police-to-population ratio prevented the Maoists from operating with impunity.
Secondly, the response time of the security forces in response to emergencies was significantly reduced, putting the Maoists on the defensive. The security forces now operate with greater confidence and higher levels of motivation.
Third, locals saw the security forces gaining the upper hand, which was also a psychological setback for the Maoists. The local population now has more confidence that the resources for their well-being and development lie with the government and not with the Maoists.
Fourth, the cascading effect of the benefits gained by the security forces improved the human intelligence (HUMINT) scenario for the armed forces in a zero-sum manner.
Fifth, the camps have also witnessed the construction of roads and construction of mobile towers, transforming local lifestyles.
Sixth, the civil administration has benefited from the support of the security camps. The locals who had hitherto seen only a police officer or a forest guard as a representative of the government, now see the collector, tehsildar and patwari reaching out to them. As progress continues to be consolidated along the axes of security camps, the future is both encouraging and promising. As a result, the Maoists’ appeal has waned. The scope of capacity development in terms of recruitment, acquisition of arms and ammunition and financing for the Maoists has decreased. Large numbers of cadres and their leaders have surrendered or been neutralized by security forces. It is indeed a matter of time before the physical presence of Maoism will cease to exist.
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Implement constitutional guarantees
However, the medium and long-term challenge can only be overcome if the structural problems are addressed. As locals are expected to emerge from isolation, rights-based issues will come to the fore. Several Maoist leaders who have surrendered in recent days have declared their intention to continue the struggle for the tribal cause in a democratic manner. The task that lies ahead for the government will be difficult and justifies a transparent and mature approach.
Implementation of constitutional guarantees enshrined in laws such as the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act and the Forest Rights Act should form the basis of the approach ahead. Civil administration has to start from scratch in most areas with minimal governance.
A task force with a future plan for the region till 2047, as part of the Viksit Bharat vision, will not be too ambitious to ask for. The security forces have toiled, sacrificed and managed the conflict well, providing the government with a platform to continue the mission for lasting peace.
Shashank Ranjan is a veteran (Colonel) of the Indian Army with significant experience serving in a counter-terrorism environment. He is currently teaching at OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana
Published – Jan 5, 2026 00:48 IST
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