A Major Blow to Maoism: The Surrender of a Top Leader and its Implications
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Internal Security (Left-Wing Extremism - LWE/Naxalism, Key leaders); Indian Polity and Governance (Surrender and Rehabilitation Policies).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (Internal Security): Linkages between development and spread of extremism; Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Security challenges and their management in border areas. The decline of the Maoist leadership is a key development in India's fight against LWE.
Key Highlights from the News
In Maharashtra, the mass surrender of 61 Maoists to the police has been a major setback for the Maoist movement in the country.
Among those who surrendered is Mallojula Venugopal Rao (Bhupathi), a top leader who was a central committee member and Politburo member of the CPI (Maoist).
Bhupathi, known as the "brains" of the movement, is the brother of Kishenji, a prominent Maoist leader killed in 2011.
Significance of this surrender:
It indicates that the leadership of the Maoist movement has been completely shattered, and the movement is nearing its end.
Dissatisfaction with the movement's current direction and internal problems are a major reason for this surrender.
The consistent efforts by the Maharashtra Police paved the way for this surrender.
This is seen as a success of the government's surrender and rehabilitation policy and the result of the security forces' operations.
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