Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday (May 18) felicitated senior Telangana police officers in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, for their role in suppressing Maoist activity and making Telangana a Naxal-free State.
The officers honoured at the special event included Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand, State Security Advisor B. Shivadhar Reddy, DGP Operations Anil Kumar and Malkajgiri Commissioner B. Sumathi, along with the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) team led by her. The recognition was part of the Union Government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Shah reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to building a Naxal-free society and said a target date of March 31, 2026, had been fixed during an internal review meeting in January 2024 for the complete eradication of Naxalism.
“When this target was set, many had privately expressed doubts over whether it could be achieved. However, we moved ahead with a clear vision and strategy. Today, with the blessings of Goddess Danteshwari, Bastar has been declared Naxal-free,” he said.
The Union Home Minister described Chhattisgarh becoming free from Naxalism as a historic milestone in the country’s prolonged fight against Left-Wing Extremism.
He said the country had faced the challenge of Naxalism for nearly three generations, from the 1970s until March 31, 2026, and noted that insurgency-affected areas had witnessed bloodshed, developmental setbacks and uncertainty for the younger generation.
Mr. Shah said security personnel from several States had made supreme sacrifices in combating Maoist violence, adding that the achievement was possible because of the coordinated efforts of security forces and governments.
He noted that Naxalism had never been confined to one region and had remained a matter of national concern, including in his home state of Gujarat.
Several senior officials from the Centre and State governments, along with representatives of various security agencies, attended the programme held in Jagdalpur.