New Delhi [India], January 26 (HBTV): As part of the Centre’s strategy to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026, the Central Reserve Police Force has established 229 Forward Operating Bases across six key Naxal-affected states since 2019.
The Forward Operating Bases form a core element of the government’s security approach to counter Left Wing Extremism. Set up by central armed police forces, including the CRPF and its specialised units, these bases are located in remote and forested areas that were earlier considered Naxal strongholds.
Of the 229 bases established by the CRPF, the highest number, 59, were set up this year, followed by 40 in 2024, 27 in 2023, 48 in 2022, 29 in 2021, 18 in 2020 and eight in 2019. The bases have been established across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Telangana.
Among the 59 bases established this year, Chhattisgarh accounts for the highest number with 32, followed by Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh with nine each. Maharashtra and Odisha have four each, while one base has been set up in Telangana.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha during the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that a total of 377 Forward Operating Bases have been established since 2019 by all Central Armed Police Forces deployed in Naxal-affected states. These include 74 bases in 2025, 71 in 2024, 51 in 2023, 66 in 2022, 51 in 2021, 40 in 2020 and 24 in 2019.
The primary objective of the bases is to extend the reach of the state into interior areas, deny safe havens to Naxal cadres and enable sustained area domination. Unlike temporary camps, these bases are semi-permanent or permanent structures equipped with accommodation, communication systems, medical facilities and logistical support, allowing security forces to remain deployed for extended periods.
Officials said the presence of Forward Operating Bases has reduced the distance between security forces and conflict zones, improved response times and enhanced intelligence gathering. Their establishment has enabled deeper and more frequent patrols, better coordination with local police and improved security for development activities such as road construction, mobile connectivity projects and the implementation of welfare schemes.
Over the years, the expansion of these bases, particularly in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, has been credited with shrinking Naxal influence, restoring administrative control and creating a more secure environment for governance and development in previously inaccessible areas.
The Centre has been supplementing state efforts through the National Policy and Action Plan to address Left Wing Extremism, approved in 2015, which adopts a multi-pronged strategy combining security measures, development interventions and the protection of local communities’ rights and entitlements.
According to Ministry of Home Affairs data, the number of Naxal-affected districts has declined sharply over the years, with only a limited number of districts now categorised as severely affected. Violence related to Left Wing Extremism has also seen a significant decline, with incidents and casualties dropping substantially compared to their peak levels in 2010. (ANI)