On a quiet morning near the Ramaguda forest along the Andhra-Odisha border, an elite anti-Naxal force moved through the dense jungle. Acting on pinpoint intelligence about a high-level meeting of top Naxal leadership, small squads stealthily surrounded the location on foot. When the gunfight broke out, the unit’s tactical discipline and fast response neutralised top insurgent commanders. Illustration by The Geostrata This was the 2016 Ramaguda encounter, one of the most decis

The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, in a bold claim, stated the centre would wipe out Naxalism from India by March 2026. While top Naxal leaders like Hidma and Nambala Keshava Rao are already eliminated, there are a few more miles to go before Naxalism is completely wiped out from India. Illustration by The Geostrata NAXALISM: THE BEGINNING A group of political insurgents driven by Maoist ideologies is called Naxals, Naxalwadis, or Naxalites. They advocate armed rebelli