Baster Freed from Naxalism: Amit Shah Credits Forces for Victory

In a major statement on national security, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared on Tuesday that the Bastar division, once a global epicenter of Maoist insurgency, has been successfully purged of Naxalite influence. Speaking to reporters alongside Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Home Minister Vijay Sharma, Shah credited the successful mission to the unwavering bravery and supreme sacrifices of the security forces. He maintained that the roadmap to a 'Naxal-free India' has been realized through the strategic deployment of personnel and intelligence-led operations that broke the back of the extremist network. Shah specifically mentioned the date of May 19, 2026, as a pivotal moment in the history of Chhattisgarh. He remarked that this victory belongs to the jawans who fought in the densest forests to ensure that the tribal population could live without the constant fear of violence. The Home Minister emphasized that the current state of peace is the fruit of years of meticulous planning and the relentless execution of anti-insurgency operations. He noted that the 'fear of the gun' has vanished, replaced by the aspirations of the youth who now see a future within the democratic framework of the nation. The Home Minister also took the opportunity to critique the previous political climate, suggesting that the fight against Naxalism gained significant momentum only after a change in the state administration in late 2023. He asserted that the synergy between the central and state governments has been the defining factor in this final push. By prioritizing the safety of the common man and the sovereignty of the state, the security forces have managed to reclaim territories that were once considered inaccessible 'liberated zones' of the insurgents.