Chhattisgarh: Amit Shah to chair a high-level meeting on combating Naxalism

Amit Shah Holds High-Level Meet in Chhattisgarh to Strengthen Anti-Naxal Operations

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday to chair a critical security review meeting focused on countering the persistent Naxal threat in the state. The high-stakes discussion brought together senior officials from central paramilitary forces, state police, and intelligence agencies to assess ongoing operations and strategize future actions against Left-Wing Extremism.  

The meeting comes at a crucial juncture, following recent Maoist attacks that have tested security forces' gains in the region. Shah emphasized the government's two-pronged approach - combining aggressive security operations with accelerated development in Naxal-affected districts. Officials familiar with the deliberations revealed that the Home Minister reviewed the progress of specialized operations being conducted by elite CoBRA battalions and stressed the need for modernizing state police forces with better equipment and technology.  

Recent incidents, including last month's deadly ambush in Sukma that claimed five security personnel's lives, underscored the continued challenges despite an overall 22% reduction in Naxal-related violence since 2022. Shah acknowledged the sacrifices of security forces while paying tribute at a martyrs' memorial in Jagdalpur, vowing that their deaths would not be in vain.  

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reaffirmed the state government's commitment to working closely with central agencies, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve connectivity and basic amenities in remote tribal areas. The meeting concluded with several key decisions, including plans to intensify drone surveillance in dense forest zones, expedite infrastructure projects across 14 high-risk districts, and provide specialized counter-insurgency training to local police units.  

Security analysts have welcomed these measures but caution that lasting peace will require sustained efforts. "While military operations are crucial, winning the confidence of tribal communities through consistent development and governance is equally important to permanently weaken Maoist influence," noted retired IPS officer Prakash Singh.  

With state elections on the horizon, the BJP-led governments at both center and state face growing expectations to demonstrate concrete progress in resolving this decades-old security challenge. The Home Minister's visit signals the central government's continued focus on the issue, even as questions remain about the timeline for achieving complete normalcy in the affected regions.