New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday reviewed the security situation in Naxal-affected areas with Chief Ministers and top officials of Naxal-affected states. The officers provided this information. Just a few days ago, security forces had killed 31 Naxalites in the forests of Chhattisgarh.
The states affected by the threat of Naxalism include Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In this important meeting, anti-Naxal operations and development initiatives taken in the affected areas were discussed. The meeting of the Union Home Minister with the Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected states comes days after at least 31 Naxalites were killed by security forces in Chhattisgarh in one of the most successful operations against Naxalites in recent times.
Officials said that due to the strategy of the Narendra Modi-led government, there has been a 72 percent decline in Naxalite violence, while the number of deaths in Naxalite attacks in 2023 has declined by 86 percent compared to 2010 and the Naxalite is now in its last phase. Fighting a battle.
Union ministers involved in providing development assistance to Naxalism-affected states also attended the meeting. Senior officials of the Centre, states and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) also participated in the meeting.
The Home Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Home Minister, the Central Government is committed to completely root out the threat of Naxalism by March 2026.
The Central Government is providing all possible assistance to the State Governments affected by Naxalism in fighting this menace.
Shah last chaired a review meeting on Naxalism with chief ministers of affected states on October 6, 2023. In that meeting, the Home Minister had given comprehensive guidelines regarding ending Naxalism. So far in the year 2024, more than 230 Naxalites have been eliminated, 723 Naxalites have surrendered, while 812 have been arrested. The number of districts affected by Naxalism is now only 38.
The central government has taken several steps, including boosting road and mobile connectivity, to take development schemes to remote areas of the affected states. The statement said that so far a total of 14,400 km long roads have been built in Naxalism affected areas and about 6,000 mobile towers have been installed.