Maoism's End Nears: Only 4 Dreaded Naxal Leaders Remain, 'Devji' Hunted

• Security forces have eliminated 270 Naxals, arrested over 900, and secured 1,590 surrenders since early 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2026, for complete eradication.
• Last week, CC member Anil Da alias Toofan and 16 other Naxals were killed in a 36-hour encounter in Jharkhand's Chaibasa district.
• Four top Naxal leaders remain: Ganapathy, Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji (Acting General Secretary), Misir Besra, and Mallaraji Reddy, each carrying a reward of at least 1 crore rupees.
• Devji is suspected to be hiding in Odisha, while the others are likely in border areas of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, or Andhra Pradesh.
• Naxal forces are facing severe shortages of cadres, weapons, and money, with only 100-150 Naxals estimated to be left in the forests.

Why It Matters: The government is in the final phase of eradicating Naxalism, with only four key leaders remaining.