India, April 1 -- Monday evening. Union home minister Amit Shah is speaking in the Lok Sabha, detailing his government's success in ridding India of left wing extremism or Naxalism. He speaks for almost 85 minutes, explaining how the state won.

At an undisclosed location in Bastar district's Jagdalpur town, five top Naxal leaders who surrendered in late 2025, are listening to Shah. For decades, they fought the state, but admit that eventually, the state prevailed.

On Tuesday, the five meet with Hindustan Times at a park on the outskirts of Jagdalpur . They speak candidly about the decline of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), the steady strengthening of intelligence networks and security forces, the leadership vacuum at the top of t...