Home Minister Amit Shah is set to review the security situation and assess the progress of development schemes in eight Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states during a meeting with their chief ministers on Monday. This meeting comes after a significant achievement by counter-Naxal forces in Chhattisgarh, where security personnel eliminated 31 Naxals in the Maad area along the Narayanpur-Dantewada border over the past two days.
With these recent operations, the total number of Naxals killed by security forces has risen to 238 this year. Of these, 202 were neutralized by mid-September, followed by five more over the next two weeks. The most recent operation resulted in 31 Naxal casualties over two days, concluding on Friday.
Shah will lead the review meeting with chief ministers from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. In light of Shah’s recent declaration to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism by March 2026, the meeting will focus on advancing counter-Naxal operations to a decisive stage. Discussions are expected to explore strategies for security forces to penetrate deeper into the Maad region, where Naxal influence remains. The next steps include establishing forward bases in these areas and extending development initiatives to local communities.
The central government has been actively implementing various measures, including improving road and mobile connectivity in remote LWE-affected regions. So far, around 14,400 kilometers of roads have been constructed, and nearly 6,000 mobile towers have been installed to facilitate communication in these areas, according to an MHA spokesperson.
Five Union ministers responsible for key development portfolios will also be part of the discussions, alongside the deputy national security advisor and senior officials from the central and state governments, as well as the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). This meeting follows Shah’s previous review session with chief ministers on October 6, 2023, where he outlined a detailed, time-bound plan to eradicate LWE.
The Modi government’s efforts to combat Left-Wing Extremism have led to a 72% reduction in Naxal violence and an 86% decline in deaths as of 2023, compared to 2010. The number of LWE-affected districts has also decreased to just 38 in 2024.
In the first nine months of 2024, 723 LWE cadres surrendered, and 812 were arrested. With the Chhattisgarh government set to release an updated surrender policy for Naxal cadres, more individuals are expected to lay down arms and reintegrate into society.
A statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government is fully committed to eradicating Left-Wing Extremism by March 2026. The central government continues to provide extensive support to LWE-affected states in their efforts to combat Naxalism.
