Anti-Naxal Operations in Kanha National Park Eliminate Armed Maoists
Source:Indian Express ↗
Why It Matters
The article provides a case study of ongoing Left Wing Extremism (Naxalism) operations across the tri-state junction (MMC zone) and the use of protected national parks by insurgents. This is highly relevant for GS Paper 3 (Internal Security - LWE) and Prelims GS1 (Geography/Environment mapping for Kanha).
Summary
Two female Maoists, each carrying a bounty of Rs 14 lakh, were killed in an encounter with the Madhya Pradesh Police's Hawk Force in the forest area of Kanha National Park in Mandla district. The Maoists, hailing from Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) and Sukma (Chhattisgarh), were active in the Bhoramdev Area Committee. This incident highlights the ongoing internal security challenge of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) across the inter-state borders of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, as well as the misuse of dense, protected forest terrains like Kanha by insurgent groups as safe havens.
Key Points
- Two female Maoists, carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh each, were killed in an encounter with the MP Police in Mandla district.
- The encounter occurred in the forest area falling under the Kanha National Park, highlighting Maoist presence in and around protected forest regions.
- The Maoists belonged to the Bhoramdev Area Committee of the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Maoist zone.
- The deceased Maoists were native to Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) and Sukma (Chhattisgarh), demonstrating the inter-state operational linkages of Left Wing Extremism.
Important Terms
Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
Official term for Maoist/Naxalite insurgency in India, aiming to overthrow the state via armed struggle ("Protracted People’s War"). It exploits socio-economic grievances in tribal and forest-rich regions known as the "Red Corridor."
UPSC context
GS Paper 3 (Internal Security); tests understanding of security-development linkages and counter-insurgency strategies like the SAMADHAN doctrine.
CPI (Maoist)
A banned far-left militant organization formed in 2004, designated as a terrorist entity under the UAPA. It is the primary group responsible for LWE in India, operating through its armed wing, the PLGA.
UPSC context
GS Paper 3 (Internal Security); focuses on non-state actors, internal security threats, and the application of anti-terror laws like UAPA.
Hawk Force
An elite specialized anti-Naxal unit of the Madhya Pradesh Police, raised in 2000. It is specifically trained for guerrilla warfare and counter-insurgency operations in the state's dense forest terrains like Balaghat and Mandla.
UPSC context
GS Paper 3 (Internal Security); relevant for "Role of State Police Forces" and specialized units in managing asymmetric internal security threats.
MMC Zone
A strategic operational zone (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh) established by Maoists around 2016 to expand their footprint at the tri-junction of these states, bypassing intensified security pressure in traditional bastions like Bastar.
UPSC context
GS Paper 3 (Internal Security); tests understanding of insurgency dynamics, inter-state security coordination, and the evolving geographical spread of LWE.
Kanha Bhoramdeo (KB) Division
A Maoist organizational unit spanning Kanha National Park (MP) and Bhoramdeo Sanctuary (Chhattisgarh). It leverages the continuous forest canopy for cross-border movement, logistics, and establishing safe havens from security operations.
UPSC context
GS Paper 3 (Internal Security); highlights the nexus between geographical terrain and insurgency, and the challenges of policing protected forest areas.
Bhoramdev Area Committee
A localized tactical sub-unit of the CPI (Maoist) active within the Kanha-Bhoramdeo forest corridor. It focuses on regional cadre recruitment, logistical support, and executing armed actions against security forces.
UPSC context
GS Paper 3 (Internal Security); relevant for understanding the granular organizational structure of insurgent groups and their regional operational strategies.
Prelims Trap
"The Hawk Force is a specialized Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the MHA."
Hawk Force is an elite anti-Naxal commando unit of the Madhya Pradesh State Police, not a central force like the CRPF's CoBRA.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the key ecological features of Kanha National Park?
- Maikal Range: Located in the Maikal hills of the Satpuras, spanning Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- Hard-ground Barasingha: Internationally recognized for rescuing this endemic Indian swamp deer subspecies (the state animal of MP) from near extinction.
- Ecological Corridor: Connects to Chhattisgarh's Achanakmar Tiger Reserve through the Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary, facilitating critical genetic exchange for large mammals.
Why did LWE groups develop the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone?
- Strategic Retreat: Created by CPI (Maoist) as a tactical fallback and safe haven due to mounting pressure from security forces in the core Bastar/Dandakaranya region.
- Transit Corridor: It aims to establish a secure transit corridor linking the southern guerrilla bases to northern and eastern insurgent pockets.
- Terrain Exploitation: Insurgents leverage the dense, inter-state contiguous forest tracts (like the Maikal ranges) to evade localized state security sweeps.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Protected Areas as Insurgent Havens
Maoists exploiting Kanha mirrors past insurgent use of Simlipal and Valmiki reserves. This blends Internal Security with Environment, as conservation zones inadvertently provide tactical cover for extremists.
State-led Elite Anti-LWE Forces
MP's 'Hawk Force' highlights the ongoing shift toward state-led, intelligence-based jungle warfare units (like AP's Greyhounds and Chhattisgarh's DRG) over reliance on central forces.
Expect a Prelims mapping question on the Kanha-Bhoramdev-Achanakmar ecological corridor, or a Mains Q on LWE shifting to the MMC zone.
Linked PYQs · 3
Linked PYQs · 3
- 2022MainsGS3
Naxalism is a social, economic and developmental issue manifesting as a violent internal security threat. In this context, discuss the emerging issues and suggest a multilayered strategy to tackle the menace of Naxalism.
- 2018MainsGS3
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is showing a downward trend, but still affects many parts of the country. Briefly explain the Government of India's approach to counter the challenges posed by LWE.
- 2020PrelimsGS1
Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?
