New Delhi, Dec. 28 -- The leadership of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has experienced a staggering decline this year, with its central committee (CC) members dropping from 21 to just five within the span of a single year, according to data from the Chhattisgarh Police. Officials engaged in anti-insurgency operations noted that the central committee - the highest decision-making body of the proscribed outfit - had at least 45 members in its ranks until three years ago.

The latest blow to Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in the country came on December 25, when security forces shot dead Ganesh Uike, a member of the CPI (Maoist)'s central committee who oversaw insurgent operations in Odisha and carried a cumulative bounty of Rs.1.10 crore....