Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The encounter, on the surface, might appear to be routine political choreography ahead of the PM’s Chhattisgarh visit on March 30 but beneath the veneer of political meetings lies a more profound reality: a concerted, sustained effort by both the Indian government and the Chhattisgarh state administration to wrestle the region from the suffocating grip of extremist left-wing Maoism. This insurgency has bled Bastar for decades, leaving scars of violence and underdevelopment etched deep into the land and its people.

Recent reports emanating from the region, detailing successful anti-Naxal operations, tentatively point towards a shift in momentum, a potential upswing in the long, arduous battle. But the crucial question remains: are we witnessing a true convergence of security gains and developmental initiatives, a point where tangible progress can finally take root and flourish in this historically volatile landscape? Is Bastar, against all odds, finally on the cusp of a genuine revival?

For too long, Bastar has been synonymous with violence, a theatre of relentless conflict where the writ of the state often struggled to penetrate. The pervasive shadow of Maoist insurgency has not only claimed countless lives but has also fundamentally stunted any prospect of development. To even contemplate a revival, a necessary, albeit grim, precondition is the establishment of a semblance of security.

The recent surge in anti-Naxal operations indicates a decisive push in this direction. News reports are replete with figures — 30 Maoists killed in separate encounters, 81 Naxal deaths already this year, and 305 extremists killed in just 15 months. These numbers, stark and unsettling as they are, paint a picture of intensified engagement, a relentless pursuit of Maoist cadres by security forces.

These aren’t isolated incidents but rather the result of a strategic recalibration. The political will of the central as well as the state government is on the same page. This unified front has empowered security forces to adopt a more aggressive posture, establishing forward operating bases deep within Maoist........

© News18