CRPF records zero operational fatalities in 12-month period after 47 years
· India · Hindustan Times, Times of India
The CRPF marked its first fatality-free operational year in 47 years, coinciding with a significant decline in Maoist violence across the country. In 2025, eight CRPF personnel were killed in action in LWE-hit areas of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, while one died during field firing practice. Inspectors Kousal Kumar Mishra and Mahendra Lashkar were among those killed in a blast during an area domination exercise in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum in October 2025. The force, with a strength of over 300,000 personnel, credited contemporary hardware, improved training, strategic planning, and rapid medical evacuation for the milestone. The government declared India Maoist-free on March 30, 2026, following record surrenders and arrests that effectively ended Maoist activity nationwide.
Why it matters
The milestone directly benefits the over 300,000 CRPF personnel and their families, marking a historic shift in a force long plagued by Maoist violence in regions like Chhattisgarh's Bastar. It reflects the success of enhanced security operations and strategic planning in eliminating Left Wing Extremism from Indian districts.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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