New Delhi, 13 Dec

The Centre on Saturday said it has dealt a major blow to Left Wing Extremism by choking the financial lifelines of Naxal groups through a coordinated, multi-agency operation that led to the seizure of assets worth ₹92 crore.

According to a government statement, the action has also caused “severe moral and psychological damage to urban Naxals” by tightening control over their information and support networks.

The Centre reiterated its commitment to making the country completely Naxal-free by March 2026 and said a dedicated vertical has been created within the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to intensify action against Maoist networks. The NIA has seized ₹40 crore so far, state authorities another ₹40 crore, while the Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth ₹12 crore.

“Simultaneous action has inflicted severe moral and psychological damage on urban Naxals and tightened control over their information warfare networks,” the statement said.

Highlighting the shrinking footprint of Naxalism, the government said only three districts remain “most-affected” in 2025, compared to 36 in 2014. Total Naxal-affected districts have come down sharply from 126 in 2014 to just 11 this year.

Operational gains have also intensified. In 2025 so far, 317 Naxals have been neutralised, 862 arrested and 1,973 surrendered. “A total of 28 top Naxal leaders have been neutralised, including one Central Committee Member in 2024 and five in 2025,” the statement said.

Among major operations, 27 hardcore Naxals were killed in Operation Black Forest, while 258 surrendered in October 2025 across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, including several senior cadres.

Security infrastructure has expanded significantly, with fortified police stations increasing from 66 before 2014 to 586 over the past decade. Police stations reporting Naxal incidents have dropped from 330 in 2013 to 52 by June 2025.

The government also underscored its parallel focus on development in former Naxal strongholds. Over 12,000 km of roads have been built since 2014, while mobile connectivity has improved through the installation of thousands of 2G and 4G towers.

“The government has adopted a unified, multi-dimensional and decisive strategy against Naxalism, replacing the scattered approach of previous governments,” the statement said.