Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

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Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

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An ongoing communist insurgency in India, rooted in agrarian unrest and Maoist ideology.

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Origins & Early Life

The Naxalite–Maoist insurgency is an ongoing conflict between the Government of India and communist groups. The Naxalites are a group of communist organisations following Maoist political sentiment and ideology, and claim to be fighting for rural poor and wage a people's war against the government. The insurgency started after the 1967 Naxalbari uprising and the subsequent split of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leading to the creation of a Marxist–Leninist faction. The faction later splintered into various smaller groups. The Naxalites' armed wing, the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army, was declared a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of India (1967), and has been responsible for numerous attacks causing several deaths and injuries to civilians and security personnel.

Career & Major Achievements

The insurgency reached its peak in the late 2000s and has been on the decline since then due to the counter-insurgency actions and development plans formulated by the Government of India. The Naxal influence zone, known as the "Red Corridor", has shrunk from a peak of nearly 180 districts in the late 2000s to 3 districts by early 2026, with over 5,000 insurgents being killed since the 2000 and more than 10,000 surrendering between 2015 and 2025. In 1967, a faction of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal called the "Siliguri group" wanted a protracted people's war in India similar to the Chinese Communist Revolution and Majumdar wrote the Historic Eight Documents which became the foundation of the Naxalite movement. The party was part of a coalition government in West Bengal. Majumdar believed that the party would support his doctrine with other leaders like land minister Hare Krishna Konar who had been supporting his rhetoric suggesting that "the militant confiscation of land was integral to the party's programme." However, the party did not approve of the armed uprising, which led to internal conflict with the sympathizers of the group.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In March 1967, a few peasant workers seized a plot of land from its jotedar (aristocrat). In May 1967, the Siliguri Kishan Sabha, of which Santhal was the president, declared their support for the movement initiated by Sanyal and their readiness to adopt an armed struggle to redistribute land to the landless. The group advocated to initiate an armed struggle. In Naxalbari in West Bengal, the peasants fought when a sharecropper of tribal background, who had been given land by the courts under the tenancy laws, was attacked by the previous landlord's men. When the police arrived, they were ambushed by a group led by Santhal, and in the ensuing fight, 11 people including a police inspector were killed.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1967: 1967 Milestone — The insurgency started after the 1967 Naxalbari uprising and the subsequent split of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leading to the creation of a Marxist–Leninist faction.
2. 2026: 2026 Milestone — The Naxal influence zone, known as the "Red Corridor", has shrunk from a peak of nearly 180 districts in the late 2000s to 3 districts by early 2026, with over 5,000 insurgents being killed since the 2000 and more than 10,000 surrendering between 2015 and 2025.

Notable Quotes by Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

“The militant confiscation of land was integral to the party's programme.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

True or False: “The Naxalite–Maoist insurgency began immediately after India gained independence in 1947.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The conflict is documented as having started following the 1967 Naxalbari uprising.

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