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The battle for Maoist stronghold Abujhmad

The govt wants to wipe out Maoist extremism by March 31, 2026. With a year to go, HT explores the contours of this battle

Published on: Apr 1, 2025, 04:50:04 IST
By Ritesh Mishra, Prawesh Lama
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When security personnel were firing bullets at Maoists in the Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, around 300 km away, a team of Chhattisgarh police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officers were putting finishing touches on another project that didn’t make the headlines but could end up being the most significant victory for the government against the insurgents this year.

PREMIUMSecurity forces across the spectrum are unanimous that the main factor that will determine the durability of the inroads is the goodwill of the local tribal population (HT File)
Security forces across the spectrum are unanimous that the main factor that will determine the durability of the inroads is the goodwill of the local tribal population (HT File)

The troops built a 5 km stretch from Padamkot village in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district to Kuwakodi village in

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra

Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prawesh Lama

Prawesh Lama, an Associate Editor at Hindustan Times with nearly two decades of frontline reporting experience across India’s conflict zones, border regions, and disaster-hit areas. He writes on internal security, insurgency, the Northeast, and Left-wing extremism and has reported from India’s hinterland and some of the most sensitive and strategically critical regions.

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