The A to Z of Naxal fight: All about the movement, its goal and its leaders

The latest Maoist ambush that claimed the top leadership of Congress in Chhattisgarh has put the focus sharply back on “India’s biggest internal security threat” after almost two years of lull. Here’s all that you wanted to know about the movement, its goal and its leaders...




Andhra Pradesh

Violent Left wing extremism began in Naxalbari, Bengal, but the modern-day Maoist agitation finds its roots in AP, once the epicentre of the movement – at its peak 23 out of the 26 districts were Maoist-affected. Even today, a bulk of its top leaders is from the state. However, Maoist violence has ebbed

Dandakaranya

The ‘jungle of punishment’ of Ramayana lore is where Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra meet up. The forest is the epicenter of the Maoist movement Dantewada Ambush: On April 6,2010, Maoists killed 76 CRPF men

Bastar

Once India’s biggest district, it was later divided into Bastar, Dandewata and Kanker. Today, the greater Bastar region, with about 70% ST population, is a hotbed of Maoists. Bhumkal Rebellion: The tribal uprising against the British in 1910 still inspires the Maoists

Charu Majumdar

The founder of Naxalbari peasant uprising in 1967, who is up there in the ultra-left pantheon along with Lenin, Stalin & Mao. Died in a police lock-up, aged 54, in Kolkata in 1972 CCOMPOSA: The Co-ordination Ccommittee for all Maoist Groupings in South Asia, including Nepal’s ruling party

Eka Nakshalwadya

Cha Janma, (The birth of a Naxal), a Marathi novel written by Vilas Balkrishna Manohar is a fictional account of a Madia Gond Juru’s unwilling journey of life, his metamorphosis from an exploited nameless tribal to a Naxal.

Fifth and Ninth

Schedules of the Constitution provide for a limited form of autonomy to tribals with regard to exploiting natural resources on their lands. But this did not happen in practice

Greyhound Forces

The AP state police commando force raised in 1986 that’s credited with decimating the Maoist movement in the state. Greyhound veterans routinely train anti-Maoist wings of other affected state police forces.

Historic Eight

monographs authored by Charu Majumdar that outline the ideological principles on which the Naxalite militant communist movement in India was based

Integrated Action Plan

GoI’s ambitious plan to develop 60 Maoist districts; aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning healthcare, drinking water, education and roads. Launched in 2010, but yet to create any solid impact

Jungalmahal

Maoist-affected region in south-west Bengal, consisting of large parts of 3 districts, West Midnapore , Bankura and Purulia. Home to a sizeable tribal population; moreover, hilly topography makes region ideal for guerilla operations.

Kondapalli Seetharamaiah

Joined CPI at a young age, he was active in the Telengana rebellion. He formed the People’s War Group Kishenji: Mallojula Koteswara Rao, aka Kishenji, was considered the face of the Maoist movement in India. He was killed in Nov 2011 by security forces

Laxman Rao, Mupalla aka Ganapathy

He was one of the early members of CPI (ML) PWG. Is now the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), formed after the merger of PWG and Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) in 2004

MMao Tse Tung

Established the Chinese People’s Republic. Maoism, formally known as Mao Zedong Thought, is a political theory derived from his teachings. Maoism sees the agrarian peasantry, rather than the working class, as the key revolutionary force which can fundamentally transform capitalist society towards socialism

Operation Green Hunt

The operation began in November 2009 in five states. However, this term was actually coined by the Chhattisgarh police officials to describe one successful drive against the CPI (M) in the state

People’s Liberation Guerilla Army

It was founded in December 2000 as the People’s Guerrilla Army by the PWG. Later, It changed its name to PLGA when CPI (Maoist) was formed in 2004

Red Corridor

Naxal-affected area covering in AP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Orissa, UP and West Bengal. Region is market by poverty, high illiteracy and lack of employment. Primary economic activity in the mineralrich area is agriculture

Salwa Judum

Was a civilian militia mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh, India, aimed at countering Naxalite violence in the region. SC declared militia illegal and unconstitutional and ordered its disbanding

Telangana Struggle

By July 1948, 2,500 villages in the south were organised into ‘communes’ as part of a peasant movement. Simultaneously the famous Andhra Thesis for the first time demanded that ‘Indian revolution’ follow the Chinese path of protracted people’s war.

Unlawful Activities

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) slapped on CPI (Maoist) designating it as a terrorist organization in 2009

Void Created

by the failure of government in tribal areas was exploited by the Maoists initially

Women

form 40% of cadre, according to CPI (M) in 2010

Xinhai Revolution

Also known as the Revolution of 1911, or the Chinese Revolution, that overthrew China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and established the Republic of China.

YSR

YS Rajasekhar Reddy was seen as the main force that drove out Maoists from AP. The Greyhound squad was the most effective under YSR (2005-06).

Zones

Certain districts in Naxal-affected areas are “liberated zones”, according to union minister Jairam Ramesh