How the Modi Government Smashed the Maoist Fortress of Abujhmad: The Fall of India’s Last Red Citadel

For decades, Abujhmad in Chhattisgarh stood as an impenetrable fortress for Maoist insurgents — a "liberated zone" where the writ of the Indian state did not run. Cloaked in dense forests, devoid of roads, and isolated from communication infrastructure, this 4,000-square-kilometre stretch across Narayanpur, Bijapur, and parts of Maharashtra and Telangana became the epicentre of left-wing extremism in India. It housed Maoist training camps, weapons manufacturing units, and a parallel administration under the so-called "People’s War".

Home affairs minister Amit Shah said 27 Maoist rebels had been killed and 54 arrested © ANI/Shrikant Singh/Reuters | Financial Times

But in a historic crackdown, the Modi government, in coordination with state forces and central paramilitary units, has dismantled the Maoist command structure in Abujhmad — delivering the most significant blow yet to the five-decade-old insurgency.

A region once called “liberated” by Maoists is today under the control of the Indian state.

The Fall of Abujhmad: Operation Black Forest

On May 21, 2025, a well-coordinated multi-agency counterinsurgency operation named "Operation Black Forest" was launched at the Narayanpur-Bijapur border deep inside the Abujhmad jungle. The operation, which lasted over 72 hours, resulted in the killing of 27 Maoist fighters — including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju — the all-powerful General Secretary of CPI (Maoist), the top-most figure in the Maoist hierarchy.

Basavaraju, with a bounty of ₹1.5 crore, was the last of the original Politburo members who led the merger of the People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre in 2004. His death is being seen as the equivalent of decapitating the insurgency.

The fact that such a high-value target was neutralized inside Abujhmad — a zone where security forces earlier couldn’t even enter — shows the scale of intelligence, planning, and coordination under the new counterinsurgency doctrine.

From No-Go Zone to Government-Controlled Territory

Abujhmad was not just a jungle; it was a psychological barrier. In the past, even government officers hesitated to enter without Maoist permission. No land surveys had ever been completed in the area since British rule. It had no roads, schools, or hospitals. Maoists held “jan adalats” (kangaroo courts), levied taxes, and indoctrinated tribal youth into armed revolution.

This has now changed.

More than a dozen security camps have been established inside Abujhmad in just the last two years. Roads, helipads, mobile towers, and solar power installations are rapidly being built. Recently, CM Vishnu Deo Sai visited the Galgam camp, 40 km inside what was once hostile Maoist terrain. Local villagers now have access to ration, health camps, and basic education.

Under the Modi government’s dual strategy of hard strikes against militants and development outreach to locals, the region is witnessing a transformation never imagined before.

The Decline of the Red Corridor

The broader context to the fall of Abujhmad is the shrinking of India’s "Red Corridor" — the swath of Maoist-affected districts stretching from Andhra Pradesh to Bihar. According to Union Home Ministry data, incidents of Maoist violence have reduced by 77% between 2010 and 2023. Civilian casualties have dropped by 90%.

From 96 districts affected in 2010, only 45 remain today. The last Maoist bastions — Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Gadchiroli — are now heavily penetrated by security forces.

Experts attribute this decline to the aggressive deployment of CRPF battalions, better inter-state coordination, intelligence from surrendered Maoists, and the creation of model police stations and basic infrastructure in conflict zones.

The death of Basavaraju is expected to create a leadership vacuum in the CPI (Maoist), which has already been weakened by desertions and declining cadre strength.

Reclaiming the Nation’s Forgotten Heartland

This success is part of a larger ideological and civilizational battle. The Maoists do not merely pose a security threat; they represent an anti-state, anti-development, and anti-democracy ideology. For decades, their presence in tribal areas served to alienate some of India’s poorest citizens from the mainstream.

The Modi government’s approach has been to bridge this alienation — not just through guns, but through governance.

From launching flagship schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Ujjwala in deep jungle regions to promoting tribal tourism and forest-based livelihoods, the administration is sending a clear message: the Indian state will no longer abandon its citizens to the tyranny of armed insurgents.

Conclusion

The fall of Abujhmad marks the symbolic and strategic defeat of the Maoist insurgency in India. With the last remaining fortress dismantled, and the top leadership eliminated, the so-called "Red Corridor" stands fractured and exposed.

The Modi government’s blend of firm military resolve and inclusive development is setting a new standard for internal security strategy — one that is not just reclaiming lost territories, but restoring faith in the republic.

(Source: Financial Times, Times of India, OpIndia)