Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday commended security forces for their success in a major anti-Naxal operation in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, where 16 Naxalites were neutralized, and a significant cache of automatic weapons was recovered.
Terming it another decisive blow to Naxalism, Shah reaffirmed the Narendra Modi-led government’s commitment to eliminating Naxal insurgency by March 31, 2026.
Sharing his thoughts on X, Shah stated: “Another strike on Naxalism! Our security agencies have neutralized 16 Naxalites and recovered a massive cache of automatic weapons in an operation in Sukma. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, we are resolved to eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.”
Making a direct appeal to those still engaged in armed conflict, he added: “My appeal to those with arms is that weapons and violence cannot bring change; only peace and development can.”
The joint operation was conducted by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) based on intelligence inputs about Naxal presence in the Kerlapal area.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed that 16 bodies of Naxals were recovered from the site. He added, “Two of our jawans sustained injuries during the operation and are being evacuated for medical attention.”
Security forces seized a large cache of sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), and INSAS rifles.
Earlier this month, Amit Shah addressed Parliament, outlining the government’s progress in tackling Left-Wing Extremism:
- Naxal violence has dropped by 53% in the last decade.
- Security personnel deaths have reduced by 73% (from 1,851 between 2004-2014 to 509 in the last ten years).
- Civilian casualties dropped by 70% (from 4,766 to 1,495).
- Infrastructure growth: 11,503 km of highways and 20,000 km of rural roads have been built in Naxal-affected areas.
The government has also been working on improving connectivity in these regions. Over 4,000 mobile towers are being installed to enhance communication, with completion expected by December 1, 2024.
With this latest operation in Sukma, security forces continue their aggressive push to dismantle Naxal networks and restore peace in affected regions.
