270 rebels killed in 2025 as govt eyes Maoist-free country by March next

THE UNION GOVERNMENT AIMS TO ELIMINATE MAOISM BY MARCH 2026 THROUGH INTEGRATED SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT, AND REHABILITATION MEASURES. VIOLENT INCIDENTS DROPPED 53 PER CENT (2014-2024 VS. 2004-2014), WITH 270 MAOISTS KILLED AND 1,225 SURRENDERS IN 2025. FINANCIAL NETWORKS WERE DISMANTLED, WITH OVER RS 90 CRORE IN ASSETS SEIZED BY NIA, ED, AND STATES.

- AGENCIES

A decade-long integrated approach combining security, development, and rehabilitation has taken the Union government closer to its target of ridding the country of Maoism by March 2026, an official said on Saturday, pointing to the killing of 270 rebels in 2025 alone.

The official also highlighted a 53 per cent drop in violent incidents in 2014-2024 as compared to the previous decade.

In 2025, the security forces arrested 680 Maoists and facilitated 1,225 surrenders, the official said in a statement. In 2025,521 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) cadres have surrendered so far, and in the last two years, 1,053 surrenders have been recorded in Chhattisgarh.