The Naxalite movements are a serious threat for the Indian State: They are now active in 223 districts in 20 states and the strength of their armed cadres is estimated between 10.000 and 20.000. Due to the Naxalite’s control over certain areas and their armed fight against the state security forces, they are challenging the inherent ideals of the state, namely sovereignty and monopoly on the use of force. In order to correspond with its ideal, the state focuses on the re-establishment of law and order by encountering the Naxalites violently.
However, the movement’s roots are located within India’s numerous social and economic inequalities as well as in environmental degradation. Without fostering the root causes the state will not be able to solve the problem. This paper is divided into three parts and tries to give an extensive overview of the complex issue of the Naxalite conflict. Therefore the first part deals with the history of the movement by describing its origin and development until today. Part two deals with the strategy and actions of the Naxalites and sets its focus on the root causes. The final third part covers the state’s responses and the limitations of the state in the embattled regions.
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