New Delhi, Oct 13 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah set a clear deadline of March 2026 for the end of India’s long‑running Maoist insurgency. While that date is still a few months away, security officials say the battle may finish even sooner.
The latest hint comes from a letter by Mallojula Venugopal Rao (known as Sonu), a 70‑year‑old senior Maoist leader who has taken to an underground base. In his message, Rao calls for an end to armed struggle and urges the CPI‑Maoist to adapt to changing circumstances. Even though it is unclear whether all cadres back his suggestion, his words signal that the movement that started in 1967 is likely winding down.
The Modi administration has made it clear it will not negotiate. Home Minister Shah urges either surrender or death in an encounter. “Only surrender or a ceasefire can end this,” he says. Security strategists note that the government has a deep‑rooted policy of “zero tolerance” toward terror, a stance it has carried from the 2014 takeover through the latest phase in 2019. They warn that the Maoists are “misreading the situation” and are clinging to the movement out of pride, not strength.
Earlier, Maoists have exploited setbacks by demanding talks, giving the government time to regroup. But this time, officials say, the government will not fall for such tactics. “We see the movement in its final stages,” one official told reporters, adding that the last stronghold, Bastar, is likely to collapse soon.
The Modi government has invested in people and development as well as force. This dual strategy has won over locals, breaking the network of supporters that Maoists once relied on. Analysts view this as a major blow to the insurgents. "The shift from being a fear of Pakistan‑linked terrorism to now being a threat the state can handle," an Intelligence Bureau officer noted, "shows how much the Maoists have run out of steam."
Overall, the message is clear: the Maoist insurgency is on the brink of collapse. The Home Ministry’s approach—no negotiations, only force or peaceful surrender—aims to finish it well before the March 2026 deadline.
Contributed by Vicky V./VD
Source: ianslive
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