The Madhya Pradesh government’s declaration in December 2024 that the state is “Maoist-free” marks a significant moment in India’s long-running battle against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). Behind the announcement lies a story of sustained counter-inssurgency, intelligence-led policing, financial disruption, and administrative outreach in some of the most inhospitable forested terrains of central India.
How Maoists Found Space in Madhya Pradesh
Maoist presence in Madhya Pradesh was never as deep-rooted as in Chhattisgarh or parts of Maharashtra. Instead, districts such as Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori emerged as transit zones and safe havens when pressure mounted on CPI (Maoist) cadres elsewhere. Dense forests, poor connectivity and socio-economic vulnerabilities offered favourable conditions.
Over time, however, the nature of their presence changed. Maoist groups began acquiring sophisticated arms, including AK-47s and INSAS rifles looted from police, and senior commanders were moved in to consolidate influence. This shift from shelter-seeking to operational expansion brought them firmly under the state’s security radar.
The Hawk Force and the Cost of Counter-Insurgency
At the frontline of Madhya Pradesh’s anti-Maoist operations stood the Hawk Force, an elite unit raised specifically for jungle warfare. Their operations were marked by extreme physical risk: encounters disrupted by wildlife, lightning strikes during monsoon reconnaissance, and deadly ambushes by armed sentries.
The human cost has been high. In 2024, a Hawk Force officer was shot in the head during an operation, leaving him with severe, permanent disability. Such incidents underline the reality that declarations of success often obscure the sacrifices made by personnel on the ground.
Intelligence-Led Operations and Technology Use
A key shift in Madhya Pradesh’s strategy was the emphasis on intelligence consolidation rather than reactive encounters. Information from surrendered Maoists in other states helped map networks and movement patterns within MP. Conventional phone surveillance was ineffective, as Maoists avoided mobile usage.
Instead, drones and UAVs equipped with heat sensors were deployed to track movement and locate hideouts in dense forests. This intelligence was centrally analysed before deciding troop deployment, ensuring that operations were targeted and sustained pressure was applied rather than sporadic action.
Breaking the Maoist ‘Extortion Economy’
One of the most decisive blows to Maoist presence came from attacking their financial lifelines. In Madhya Pradesh, the tendu patta trade—linked to bidi manufacturing—had long been a major revenue source through extortion of contractors.
Administrative reforms targeted this system directly:
- Digitisation of payments to tendu leaf collectors
- Direct transfers to Jan Dhan accounts with e-KYC
- Geo-tagging of tendu patta movement
These measures sharply reduced Maoist collections, reportedly from crores of rupees to negligible amounts. Similar pressure was applied to extortion from road contractors, enabling stalled infrastructure projects to finally resume in previously inaccessible areas.
Undermining the Support Base in Villages
Beyond armed operations, the state focused on dismantling Maoist influence at the village level. Around 70 villages were identified as part of the support structure. Officials conducted sustained outreach, including prolonged stays by senior officers, panchayat meetings, and direct engagement with tribal communities.
The narrative that Maoists were “protectors of tribal interests” was challenged by highlighting how insurgency blocked roads, schools and welfare delivery. Symbolic acts such as oath-taking ceremonies renouncing insurgent support reinforced this shift. Over time, public resentment against extortion became an instrument of counter-insurgency itself.
Surrenders, Final Operations and What Lies Ahead
The culmination of this multi-pronged approach was a series of surrenders in late 2024, including senior commanders. A nine-day operation involving over a thousand personnel disrupted a planned Maoist meeting and led to the collapse of the remaining network. By mid-December, the last known cadres laid down arms, reportedly weakened by lack of food, funds and medical supplies.
The state now plans “micro-development” interventions in formerly affected villages, signalling a shift from security dominance to consolidation through governance.
What to Note for Prelims?
- Hawk Force: Madhya Pradesh’s elite anti-Naxal unit
- Tendu leaves as a key revenue source for Maoists
- Use of drones and heat sensors in LWE operations
- Surrender and rehabilitation policy offering financial incentives
What to Note for Mains?
- Role of financial disruption in countering insurgency
- Importance of intelligence-led and technology-driven policing
- Limits of force-centric approaches without governance outreach
- Madhya Pradesh model as a case study in LWE containment
- Challenges of post-insurgency development and relapse prevention
