NEW DELHI: As the country moves towards becoming Naxalism-free by March 31, it is not just the last of Maoist leaders and cadres who are being hunted or asked to surrender. The physical symbols of Left-wing extremism – specifically, ‘memorials’ built by CPI (Maoist) to “honour” its top leaders and commanders killed over the years – are also being wiped out on mission mode, ensuring that the once Naxal-affected villages are never reminded of the violent and troubled past. In line with home minister Amit Shah’s directions, reiterated at the Feb 8 review of Left-wing extremism in Raipur, CRPF has, over the last 15 days, demolished 53 such ‘memorials’ across Sukma, Bijapur and Bastar in Chhattisgarh. Backed by location-mapping of these structures, often with help from locals, CRPF is targeting the demolition of all by Feb-end. This will be followed up with a plantation drive in the cleared areas so that they merge with the surrounding forests, said a CRPF source. Among the ‘memorials’ – usually tiered, concrete structures shaped like a pyramid or pagoda, some topped with the CPI(Maoist) insignia – razed by earthmovers over the past fortnight were ones erected following the neutralisation of its general secretary Namballa Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju in Narayanpur in May 2025 and of central committee member Ramachandra Pratap Reddy alias Chalapathi in Gariyaband in Jan 2025. A senior CRPF officer told TOI that the force’s efforts extend to eliminating the fear of Maoists from the minds of people of Chhattisgarh, particularly Bastar tribals. “When villagers see these ‘memorials’ reduced to dust… without a murmur of protest or confrontation by Naxals, there’s a clear message regarding the fall of Maoism,” the officer said. Another officer said this also rules out any potential rallying points for “residual” Naxals or sympathisers.
