Raipur, Feb 8: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that Naxalism is on the verge of extinction in India and will be completely eradicated before 31 March 2026. Chairing a marathon high-level security review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) here, Shah noted that the government’s security-centric strategy has broken the backbone of the Maoist insurgency.
Reviewing the situation with top officials from five states, the Union Home Minister stated that the joint offensive by the Central and state governments has yielded decisive results. He attributed this success to a multi-pronged approach involving massive infrastructure development, the choking of Naxal financial networks by the NIA, and an effective surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy that has encouraged hundreds of cadres to join the mainstream.
“Chhattisgarh, once a stronghold of Naxal violence, is now becoming a symbol of development under the double-engine government,” Shah said. He highlighted that the state’s youth are increasingly contributing to sports, forensic science, and technical education while preserving their indigenous cultural heritage. He also emphasised that the battle against Maoists must remain coordinated across state borders to ensure that residual elements do not find refuge in neighbouring regions.
Data shared during the review revealed that security forces have made unprecedented gains since January 2024. More than 500 Naxals have been neutralised in encounters, while around 1,900 have been arrested. Additionally, over 2,500 cadres have surrendered in Chhattisgarh alone during this period. To cement these gains, the government has established over 229 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in core forest zones, with 59 set up in the last year alone to dismantle the rebels’ safe havens.
The Union Home Minister also addressed those still on the path of violence, appealing to the youth to lay down their arms. He assured that the Central and Chhattisgarh governments would fulfil all promises made under the surrender policy and provide enhanced assistance for their integration into society.
The high-stakes meeting, held at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, was attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, and the Union Home Secretary. Also present were the Director of Intelligence Bureau, the Special Secretary (Internal Security), and the Directors General of the CRPF, NIA, BSF, and ITBP. Top police officials and Chief Secretaries from Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Telangana participated in the deliberations to fine-tune the final phase of the anti-Naxal roadmap.