Maoist with ₹5 lakh bounty killed in encounter with police in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

The recent encounter between security personnel and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district serves as a stark reminder of India's persistent internal security challenge posed by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). This incident, involving a District Reserve Guard (DRG) team on an anti-Maoist operation in the forested hills of Bhairamgarh-Indravati, highlights the ongoing struggle to establish state authority and development in regions often referred to as the 'Red Corridor'.

**Background Context and Historical Roots:**

To truly understand such incidents, one must delve into the historical context of the Naxalite-Maoist movement. Its origins trace back to the Naxalbari village in West Bengal in 1967, where a peasant uprising, led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal, advocated for radical land reforms and an armed struggle against landlords and the state. Inspired by Mao Zedong's philosophy of 'protracted people's war,' the movement initially gained traction among marginalized sections, particularly tribal communities and landless laborers, who felt alienated by the state's development model and exploitative feudal structures. Over the decades, various Naxalite factions merged, culminating in the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004, which became the principal orchestrator of LWE violence in India. Their stated goal is to overthrow the Indian state through armed revolution, establishing a 'people's government.'

**What Happened and Key Stakeholders:**

The Bijapur encounter is a microcosm of the daily reality in LWE-affected areas. A DRG team, a specialized unit comprising local youth and surrendered Naxalites, was engaged in a search and area domination operation when they came under fire. This signifies the Maoists' continued presence and capacity to launch attacks despite sustained counter-insurgency efforts. The key stakeholders involved are:

1. **The Government (Central and State):** Primarily responsible for maintaining law and order, ensuring the security of its citizens, and fostering development. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs considers LWE one of the gravest internal security threats. State governments, especially Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra, bear the brunt of managing the ground situation.

2. **Security Forces:** This includes Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF (CoBRA units), BSF, ITBP, and state police forces, including specialized units like the DRG. Their role is to conduct anti-Maoist operations, secure infrastructure, and facilitate development.

3. **Maoists/Naxalites:** The insurgent group, operating from dense forest covers, employing guerrilla warfare tactics. They often exploit socio-economic grievances and lack of governance to recruit cadres and maintain influence.

4. **Local Tribal and Rural Population:** These communities are often caught in the crossfire. They are vulnerable to both Maoist coercion (demands for food, shelter, information, or forced recruitment) and potential excesses by security forces. Their welfare and trust are crucial for breaking the Maoist grip.

**Significance for India and Future Implications:**

This ongoing conflict has profound implications for India. Firstly, it poses a significant **internal security challenge**, diverting substantial resources and manpower. The LWE problem is not merely a law and order issue but deeply intertwined with **development deficits and social justice**. Maoist violence impedes infrastructure projects (roads, schools, health centers), disrupts public services, and discourages investment, thereby perpetuating poverty and underdevelopment in already backward regions. This creates a vicious cycle where lack of development fuels resentment, which Maoists exploit.

From an economic perspective, the cost of LWE is immense, impacting mineral-rich states and hindering their economic potential. Politically, it challenges the state's legitimacy and reach, particularly in remote areas. Socially, it leads to displacement, fear, and human rights concerns for the local population. The government's multi-pronged strategy, articulated in its **National Policy and Action Plan to Combat LWE (2015)**, focuses on security response, development, ensuring rights & entitlements of local communities, and public perception management. This approach acknowledges that a purely security-centric solution is insufficient.

**Constitutional Provisions and Policies:**

Several constitutional provisions and legal frameworks are relevant. **Law and order** is primarily a **State subject (Entry 1, List II, Seventh Schedule)**, but the Union Government plays a crucial role in supporting states, especially under **Article 355**, which mandates the Centre to protect states against internal disturbance. The **Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967**, is a key legislation used to ban Maoist organizations and prosecute their members. Furthermore, the **Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA)**, aims to address historical injustices against forest-dwelling communities, a core grievance exploited by Maoists. Government schemes like the **Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme**, **Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS)**, and initiatives under the **Aspirational Districts Program** are aimed at both capacity building for security forces and accelerated development in LWE-affected areas. The **Directive Principles of State Policy**, particularly **Articles 38, 39, and 46**, which emphasize social justice, minimizing inequalities, and promoting the educational and economic interests of weaker sections, provide the constitutional ethos for addressing the root causes of LWE.

Looking ahead, the LWE menace has seen a significant decline in geographical spread and intensity over the past decade, thanks to improved intelligence, targeted operations, and development push. However, incidents like the one in Bijapur indicate that the core areas of influence remain challenging. The future requires a sustained, coordinated effort focusing on intelligence-led operations, bolstering local police capabilities, accelerating inclusive development, ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes, and winning the 'hearts and minds' of the tribal population to fully eradicate this threat to India's internal security and developmental aspirations.