In its war against Reds, CRPF is now wiping out Maoist 'memorials'

NEW DELHI: As the state moves towards becoming Naxalism-free by March 31, it is not conscionable the past of Maoist leaders and cadres who are being hunted oregon asked to surrender. The carnal symbols of Left-wing extremism - specifically, 'memorials' built by CPI (Maoist) to "honour" its apical leaders and commanders killed implicit the years - are besides being wiped retired connected ngo mode, ensuring that the erstwhile Naxal-affected villages are ne'er reminded of the convulsive and troubled past. In enactment with location curate Amit Shah's directions, reiterated astatine the Feb 8 reappraisal of Left-wing extremism successful Raipur, CRPF has, implicit the past 15 days, demolished 53 specified 'memorials' crossed Sukma, Bijapur and Bastar successful Chhattisgarh. Backed by location-mapping of these structures, often with assistance from locals, CRPF is targeting the demolition of each by Feb-end. This volition beryllium followed up with a plantation thrust successful the cleared areas truthful that they merge with the surrounding forests, said a CRPF source. Among the 'memorials' - usually tiered, factual structures shaped similar a pyramid oregon pagoda, immoderate topped with the CPI(Maoist) insignia - razed by earthmovers implicit the past fortnight were ones erected pursuing the neutralisation of its wide caput Namballa Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju successful Narayanpur successful May 2025 and of cardinal committee subordinate Ramachandra Pratap Reddy alias Chalapathi successful Gariyaband successful Jan 2025.

A elder CRPF serviceman told TOI that the force's efforts widen to eliminating the fearfulness of Maoists from the minds of radical of Chhattisgarh, peculiarly Bastar tribals. "When villagers spot these 'memorials' reduced to dust... without a murmur of protestation oregon confrontation by Naxals, there's a wide connection regarding the autumn of Maoism," the serviceman said. Another serviceman said this besides rules retired immoderate imaginable rallying points for "residual" Naxals oregon sympathisers.