Crushing the Naxal menace in Chhattisgarh

IN a major victory for national security, the armed forces have eliminated over 400 Maoist insurgents in the last 16 months — culminating in the killing of Basavaraju, top commander of the banned CPI (Maoist) group, on Wednesday. Operation Sankalp, spearheaded in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, marks the most forceful crackdown on the Naxalite threat in recent memory. For decades, Maoist insurgents have plagued the country’s tribal heartlands with ambushes, extortion and targeted killings. They exploit the grievances of marginalised Adivasis and silence dissent with the gun. This latest offensive has not only decapitated the movement’s leadership but also disrupted its organisational base and weapons supply lines.