25 Years of Counter-Insurgency: Jharkhand's Successful Campaign Against Maoist Extremism Reveals Significant Decline in Affected Areas

Police have recovered substantial quantities of weapons and ammunition during this extensive period.

Ranchi:

A senior police officer reported on Thursday that since 2001 through September of this year, security forces across Jharkhand have arrested 10,769 Maoists, neutralized 235, and accepted the surrender of 324 others.

During these operations, authorities confiscated significant caches of armaments and munitions.

"Security forces have recovered 1,471 firearms throughout the past 25 years, including 710 weapons previously stolen from police forces," he stated.

"Jharkhand has historically struggled with Maoist insurgency. By 2016, 22 out of Jharkhand's 24 districts were experiencing Maoist activity. For the past quarter-century, Jharkhand police have collaborated with central forces and intelligence agencies to combat Maoist elements, resulting in 10,769 arrests of Maoists and their supporters since 2001. Additionally, 324 Maoists have voluntarily surrendered, while security operations have resulted in 235 Maoist casualties," explained Michael Raj S, IGP (Operations) and Jharkhand Police spokesperson, during a press briefing.

Currently, Maoist influence has diminished to just four districts. "Chaibasa remains the primary affected district, while three others experience activity from Maoist splinter organizations," he added.

The IGP revealed that during these counter-insurgency operations, 555 security personnel lost their lives, including 408 from state police forces and 147 from central forces.

From January through September this year alone, authorities have arrested 266 Maoists, neutralized 32, and received 30 surrenders across Jharkhand.

Among those apprehended were two regional committee members, one zonal commander, two sub-zonal commanders, and nine area commanders affiliated with CPI (Maoist) and its breakaway factions.

Official data indicates that during the past nine months, security forces have seized 157 firearms (including 58 previously stolen from police), 11,950 cartridges, 18,884 detonators, 394.5 kg of explosives, and 228 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additionally, 37 Maoist bunkers have been dismantled.

The police department also highlighted its significant campaign against cybercrime since 2016.

According to the police spokesperson, authorities have registered 10,480 cybercrime cases and apprehended 7,172 individuals for such offenses from 2016 through September of this year.

These operations have yielded the confiscation of 10,997 mobile phones, 16,432 SIM cards, 3,977 ATM cards, 1,807 passbooks, 563 checkbooks, 194 laptops, and cash amounting to Rs 2.80 crore.

Jharkhand currently maintains 584 police stations and 91 police outposts. The police spokesperson noted that the force's personnel strength has grown substantially from 29,295 in 2001 to 79,035 in 2025.