New Delhi, March 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday praised the security forces for their decisive action in Chhattisgarh, where 30 Naxalites were neutralized in two separate operations in Bijapur and Kanker districts. Shah termed the success a major step towards the ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ (Naxal-Free India campaign).
"Today, our brave security personnel have achieved a significant victory by eliminating 30 Naxalites during two operations in Bijapur and Kanker," Shah posted on X. He reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy towards Naxals who refuse to surrender, declaring that the country would be free of Naxalism by March 31 next year.
"The Modi government is moving ahead with a ruthless strategy against Naxalites, leaving no room for those who resist surrender, despite the government offering opportunities for rehabilitation and inclusion. The nation will be free of Naxal terror before March 31 next year," he added.
18 Maoists were neutralized during an encounter in the forested region along the Bijapur-Dantewada border, Inspector General (IG) Bastar P Sundarraj confirmed. However, the operation also claimed the life of a District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel. The encounter began around 7 am on Thursday and lasted for several hours.
In a separate operation at the Kanker-Narayanpur border, security forces gunned down four Naxalites near Koroskodo village in the Chhotebethiya police station area. Automatic weapons were recovered from the insurgents, and intermittent firing was still ongoing, according to the police.
The police confirmed that search operations in both regions are still underway to trace any remaining Naxal elements.
The recent operations follow a series of crackdowns in the region. Just last week, 17 Naxalites surrendered in Bijapur, while in February, security forces arrested 18 Naxalites and recovered explosives during raids at three different locations in the district.
