Chhattisgarh Government and Operation Prahar | 24 Jul 2024

Why in News?

Since the first tribal Chief Minister took office in Chhattisgarh, there has been a fivefold increase in the killings, arrests, and surrenders of Naxalites. 

• This has been accompanied by serious allegations of arbitrary state power and staged encounters as part of "Operation Prahar".

Key Points

• Operation Prahar: This is an ongoing counter-insurgency operation targeting Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
• Objective and Strategy: The main goal of Operation Prahar is to target and neutralize key Maoist leaders who are believed to be brainwashing and recruiting local youth. 
  • The operation has been intensified recently and will continue to expand across Chhattisgarh​.
• Impact on Local Population: While the operation targets Maoist insurgents, there have been concerns about its impact on local Adivasi communities, with reports of non-Maoist Adivasis being affected during the operations​​.