Poor policies could reverse Maoist decline in India

Subject

Outlook for the Maoist insurgency.

Significance

An attack on April 24, which killed 25 police officers in Chhattisgarh state, was the largest single operation conducted by Maoist guerrillas for seven years. However, it belies a situation where Maoist influence has been in steady decline since its peak in 2010.

Impacts

• Changes to land and environment laws could revive the Maoist movement.
• Development projects are key to containing the armed resistance.
• The security crackdown will fuel allegations of human rights violations.