Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the Chhattisgarh government’s efforts in combating Naxalism during a review meeting with Chief Ministers of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states at Vigyan Bhavan on Monday. He reported that since January, 194 Naxalites have been killed, 801 arrested, and 742 surrendered, underscoring the effectiveness of the state’s initiatives.
Appeals to Naxalite Youth and Government Support
Shah urged Naxalite youth to abandon violence and reintegrate into mainstream society, citing that nearly 13,000 individuals in the northeast and Jammu Kashmir have successfully done so. He congratulated the Chhattisgarh government, including the Chief Minister and Director General of Police, for their role in achieving these results.
“The progress can be attributed to the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, which saw funding increase from Rs 1,180 crore (2004-2014) to Rs 3,006 crore (2014-2024), along with Rs 3,590 crore allocated under the Special Central Assistance Scheme over the past decade,” Shah stated.
Infrastructure and Security Enhancements
Shah highlighted significant improvements in security infrastructure, mentioning that 544 fortified police stations have been established in the last decade. He noted the expansion of the road network from 2,900 km to 11,500 km, and the installation of 15,300 mobile towers, with over 5,000 now offering 4G connectivity.
Additionally, he remarked on the enhanced aerial support for security forces, with the number of helicopters deployed increasing from two to twelve. Shah also pointed out that investments of Rs 1,000 crore have been made for air support and Rs 131 crore for building a trauma center in Jagdalpur.
The Home Minister reported a significant reduction in violence across India, with incidents decreasing from 16,463 to 7,700, and a 70% reduction in deaths among civilians and security forces. He also noted that the number of districts experiencing violence has dropped from 96 to 42.
Shah emphasized the inspirational progress made in Chhattisgarh, where villagers have started participating in elections after decades of Naxal influence. “The success achieved in Chhattisgarh serves as an inspiration for all. New development campaigns are bringing government benefits to the people, leading to the opening of schools and grain shops in villages,” he concluded.
