Modi warns of threat from intellectual Naxal supporters

New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a parliamentary panel on Wednesday that the Maoist‑influenced Naxalite insurgency, which has plagued India’s central and eastern states for more than six decades, has been largely contained. Citing a sharp decline in violent incidents and the surrender of several hundred cadres in the past year, the prime minister said the armed movement’s operational capacity has been “significantly reduced” and that most of the affected districts are now under civilian administration rather than military control.

Modi cautioned, however, that the ideological currents that once fueled the rebellion remain a security concern. He noted that sympathisers, both domestic and abroad, continue to disseminate extremist literature and maintain networks that could rekindle unrest. The government’s response includes intensified intelligence‑sharing, development projects in former conflict zones, and stricter enforcement of anti‑terror laws aimed at curbing the spread of Maoist propaganda. Officials said the ongoing vigilance is intended to prevent a resurgence of violence while supporting the socioeconomic integration of the regions historically affected by the Naxalite movement.