“When we took this decision, many privately expressed doubts. However, we moved forward with a clear vision and well defined strategy”: Union home minister Amit Shah
HYDERABAD: Union home minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to eliminating Left‑wing extremism and building a Maoist‑free society. At a special event in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on Monday, he felicitated police officers who played a pivotal role in combating Maoist activities in insurgency‑affected regions.
Senior Telangana officers honoured included DGP C.V. Anand, state security adviser B. Shivadhar Reddy, DGP Operations (Octopus & Greyhounds) Dr Anil Kumar, and Malkajgiri police commissioner B. Sumathi, a former IGP of the Special Intelligence Bureau, along with her team. Shah congratulated them for their outstanding efforts and dedicated service in suppressing Maoism and making Telangana a Naxal‑free state.
Addressing the gathering, Shah recalled that during an internal review in January 2024, a target date of March 31, 2026, had been set to eradicate Maoism nationwide. “When we took this decision, many privately expressed doubts. However, we moved forward with a clear vision and well‑defined strategy,” he said.
Announcing that the Bastar region had been declared Naxal‑free, Shah described Chhattisgarh’s achievement as a historic milestone in India’s prolonged struggle against Left‑wing extremism. He noted that the nation endured Naxalism for nearly three generations, from the 1970s until March 31, 2026, with affected areas witnessing bloodshed, developmental stagnation and uncertainty for youth.
He emphasised that personnel from nearly every state had made supreme sacrifices in the fight against Maoism, and today’s success was possible only because of their dedication. Shah added that Naxalism was never confined to a single region, affecting states across the country, including his home state of Gujarat
Several senior officials from the Centre and states, along with representatives of security agencies, attended the programme.
