Union Home Minister Amit Shah. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday (February 9, 2025) that “Naxals” will be eradicated by March 31, 2026 and no citizen of the country has to lose his life due to it.
Mr. Shah said this after the security forces killed 31 Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
“I also reiterate my resolve that before 31 March, 2026, we will completely eradicate Naxalism from the country so that no citizen of the country has to lose his life due to it,” he wrote on ‘X’ in Hindi.
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The Home Minister said in the direction of making India Maoist-free, the security forces have achieved a big success in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh.
He said that 31 Maoist were killed in this operation and a huge amount of arms and explosives were also recovered.
Mr. Shah said the security forces have also lost two of its brave soldiers “in the effort to end anti-human Naxalism” and the country will always be indebted to these heroes.
“I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers,” he said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the end of Maoism in the country and the State is certain. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the state will get rid of Maoism by March 2026, he added.
With this incident, 81 Maoists have been gunned down by security forces in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year.
Security forces have been continuously getting success in this direction and moving rapidly towards achieving the goal. The end of Maoism, which is like “cancer”, from the country and the state is certain, he said in a statement.
“The sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. I pray to God for the departed souls to rest in peace and provide strength to the bereaved families, and for the speedy recovery of the injured jawans,” CM Sai said.
Asked about the deadline of March 2026 to end Maoism, Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said, “Under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Sai, the target will be achieved. The IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) laid (by Naxalites) on the path of development of Bastar will be cleared and we are working with full commitment to ensure basic amenities like schools, hospitals, water, road, anganwadis (government-run women and child care centres) and mobile towers reach the entire region.”
Last year, 219 Maoists were neutralised by security forces in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh, according to police.
Published – February 09, 2025 04:24 pm IST