Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday that since January, security forces in Chhattisgarh have neutralized 194 Naxals, arrested 801, and secured the surrender of 742. Shah made these remarks while leading a review meeting with the chief ministers of Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states. During the meeting, he urged Naxal groups to lay down their arms and integrate into mainstream society, citing that nearly 13,000 individuals have done so in the northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.
I commend the Chief Minister, Home Minister, DGP, and the entire team in Chhattisgarh. Since January, 194 Naxalites have been killed, 801 arrested, and 742 have surrendered,” Shah was quoted by ANI. He further appealed to youth involved in Naxalism to abandon violence and join the mainstream, adding, Whether, in the northeast or J&K, almost 13,000 people have left their weapons and reintegrated into society.
Shah also emphasized the significant financial support through the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, which saw a threefold increase from ₹1,180 crore (2004-2014) to ₹3,006 crore (2014-2024). This funding, he noted, has been crucial for development in Naxal-affected areas. In addition, under the Special Central Assistance Scheme, ₹3,590 crore has been invested over the past decade.
Shah highlighted enhanced resources for security forces, stating that before 2019, only two helicopters were available for troops in Naxal-affected regions, whereas now, 12 helicopters, six from the Border Security Force (BSF) and six from the Air Force, are deployed. He also referenced a detailed development plan initiated during his January visit to Chhattisgarh, aimed at combating Naxalism.
In terms of infrastructure, Shah revealed that 544 fortified police stations have been constructed in the past decade, while the road network in these areas has expanded from 2,900 km to 11,500 km. Additionally, 15,300 mobile towers have been installed, with 5,139 of them upgraded to 4G connectivity.
Education efforts were also spotlighted, as Shah mentioned that before 2014, 38 Eklavya Model Schools were approved but none had been constructed. Today, 216 schools have been approved, and 165 have already been built.
