Amit Shah in Bastar: Centre Inaugurates Facility Hub at 'Gundadhur's Village'

Union Home Minister’s two-day visit focuses on security-review and development push in Naxal-affected region; to attend Central Zonal Council meet on Tuesday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Raipur late Sunday evening, kicking off a crucial two-day tour of Bastar, a region that has long been at the heart of the country’s anti-Naxal operations. This is his first visit to the district since the government declared a significant reduction in Left-Wing Extremism.

Netanar Village Inauguration

On Monday morning, the Home Minister is set to travel to Netanar village in Bastar, the native place of legendary tribal warrior Veer Shahid Gundadhur. Officials say Mr. Shah will inaugurate a new public service centre there, essentially transforming what was once a security camp into a citizen facilitation hub.

According to sources, the move is part of a broader strategy to cement administrative presence in areas where the security landscape has improved over the last year.

Focus on Emergency Response

Before heading to the Bastar airfield, Mr. Shah attended a brief event at the police training school in the capital. He flagged off approximately 400 new vehicles for the ‘Dial 112’ emergency service. The service, which was previously operational in only 16 districts, is now being expanded to the entire state.

Authorities confirmed that the new fleet will ensure quicker police response times during emergencies. “The goal is to make help available within minutes, not just in cities but in remote pockets as well,” a senior police officer involved with the rollout said.

Forensic Units for Every District

In a significant push for scientific investigation, the government is also deploying mobile forensic units to all 33 districts. These vans are equipped with modern equipment, allowing investigators to conduct preliminary evidence collection at crime scenes directly.

Officials believe this will reduce dependency on crowded state labs and speed up the justice delivery process, particularly in districts that have historically suffered from a lack of technical resources.

Tribute at Amar Vatika

Later in the afternoon, the Home Minister arrived in Jagdalpur to pay tributes at Amar Vatika, the war memorial for security personnel killed in anti-Naxal operations. The gesture is seen as a morale booster for forces engaged in the region’s tough terrain.

Following the tribute, Mr. Shah held a closed-door meeting with senior administrative and police officials at Badal Academy. Presentations on road connectivity, healthcare access, and rehabilitation schemes for surrendered cadres were reviewed.

Zonal Council Meet on Tuesday

The highlight of the second day will be the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council, chaired by Mr. Shah. Chief ministers from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to attend.

Discussions are likely to focus on inter-state coordination, pending development projects, and sharing of best practices in internal security. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma noted that Bastar is now largely free from large-scale Naxal influence, allowing the administration to focus on welfare.

Security Camps to Facility Hubs

A recurring theme of the tour has been converting former security camps into service delivery points. “Netanar is just the beginning. Future camps will also be developed as facility hubs for villagers,” Mr. Sharma added.

However, the visit has drawn criticism from the opposition. Chhattisgarh Congress chief Deepak Baij questioned the expense of holding a physical zonal council meeting in Bastar. “When the PM advocates work-from-home to save fuel, why are lakhs being spent on special planes for this meeting? It could have been held virtually,” Mr. Baij said.

Looking Ahead

The Home Minister is scheduled to address a press conference in Jagdalpur on Tuesday afternoon before departing for Delhi. As the government shifts its strategy from active combat to consolidation and development, all eyes are on how these new facilities translate into ground-level change for Bastar’s residents.

Manipur Conflict Hits Three-Year Mark: Fear Persists as Centre Eyes 2029 Insurgency Deadline

With over 60,000 displaced and a new CM at the helm, the central government prepares a major security push to end Manipur violence by 2029.

Three years after the first sparks of ethnic violence ignited in Manipur, the ground reality for its 3.7 million residents remains defined by a fragile peace and a deep-seated geographical divide. Despite a leadership change in the state capital, with Yumnam Khemchand Singh taking over the Chief Minister’s office from N. Biren Singh, the daily lives of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities remain frozen in a state of mutual distrust and displacement.

A State Divided by Buffer Zones

Since May 2023, Manipur has effectively functioned as two separate territories. Meitei residents find it impossible to enter the Kuki-dominated hill districts, while Kuki-Zo community members have largely abandoned the Imphal Valley. This "emotional and physical partitioning" shows no signs of blurring.

Currently, around 60,000 people remain languishing in 174 relief camps across the state. For these families, the "normalcy" often cited in official briefings is non-existent. Sources within the relief administration confirmed that approximately 30 deaths have been recorded within these camps over the last three years, often due to a lack of specialized medical care or the psychological toll of prolonged displacement.

New Security Roadmap Post-Amarnath Yatra

High-level sources in the security establishment indicate that the central government is shifting its primary internal security focus from Naxal-hit regions to the Northeast. A senior military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that a decisive mission is being drafted to end insurgency in the region by 2029.

The timeline for this "major mission" is expected to accelerate following the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra. The plan reportedly involves redeploying seasoned counter-insurgency units from central India to the Manipur hills. The strategy is two-pronged: engaging in dialogue with groups currently under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact, while launching aggressive operations against those still actively carrying out ambushes.

The Challenge of Active Insurgency

The state is currently grappling with the presence of over 50 active insurgent groups. While half are technically in talks with the government, their "volunteers" are frequently spotted on the frontlines of the ethnic conflict.

"Bunker destruction and weapon seizures are ongoing, but they are temporary fixes," an official in Imphal noted. To counter this, the state has recently received its first batch of advanced Mine Protected Vehicles (MPVs) to safeguard personnel moving through sensitive hilly terrain. There is also a proposal to deploy a specialized joint force across the border areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh to choke weapon supply lines.

Justice Delayed for Tronglaobi Victims

The human cost of the lingering unrest was underscored this Saturday at Lamthabung Ground. The families of two children, killed in a bomb blast in Tronglaobi on April 7, finally performed their last rites after a 25-day standoff.

The grieving family had initially refused to cremate the bodies, demanding justice over government compensation. "We don't want jobs or money; we want those who killed our children to be behind bars," the grandmother of the victims stated during the funeral. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently probing the blast, which has been linked to suspected militants.

Legal Scrutiny and Rising Crime

The legal backlog reflecting the state's turmoil is staggering. More than 14,000 cases of violence have been registered since May 3, 2023. This includes 151 murders and over 1,200 cases of dacoity and robbery.

Three separate high-level investigations are currently underway:

• CBI Probe: Handling 11 sensitive cases, including high-profile sexual assault incidents, under Supreme Court supervision.

• Justice Chauhan Panel: Investigating the root causes of the ethnic divide, with a report due by May 20.

• NIA Investigation: Focusing on targeted killings of police officers and the Tronglaobi blast.

Looming Challenges in the Hills

Adding to the complexity, fresh friction has been reported in the Tangkhul Naga areas between Nagas and Kukis since February. This secondary conflict layer threatens to further destabilize a state already struggling to manage its primary ethnic fault line.

While the Centre eyes 2029 as the final chapter for militancy, the immediate challenge remains the safe return of the 60,000 citizens who have spent three years watching their homes from across a "buffer zone" they cannot cross.

India Nearly Naxal-Free, Says Amit Shah In Parliament

Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared in Lok Sabha on Monday that India has achieved its March 31, 2026 deadline to become almost Naxal-free, while accusing the previous Congress government in Chhattisgarh of shielding Maoists. The statement drew sharp responses from former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who termed the allegations a “blatant lie.”

Deadline Achieved

Shah informed the House that the government’s three-year target to eliminate left-wing extremism now stands fulfilled. “With full confidence, we can say that Naxalism has been eradicated from the country,” he said during a nearly 90-minute address. Official data presented by the Home Minister showed that 706 Naxals have been killed in the last three years, while over 4,800 cadres have surrendered under rehabilitation programmes.

Shah’s Accusations

The Home Minister specifically targeted the previous Congress administration in Chhattisgarh for delaying anti-Naxal operations. He alleged that between 2019 and 2023, the state government deliberately protected Maoists, preventing security forces from acting on intelligence inputs. “The Congress government in Chhattisgarh kept Naxals safe,” Shah asserted, claiming that operations gained momentum only after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state in December 2023.

Ask Bhupesh Baghel’

In a dramatic exchange, Shah dared the opposition to demand proof. “Ask Bhupesh Baghel – should I present the evidence here? Say yes, or you will be trapped,” he said, referring to three specific dates – August 20, 2019, August 24, 2024, and March 31, 2026 – when key security meetings were held. He added that delays occurred because Chhattisgarh then had a Congress government.

Congress Government Blamed

Shah also criticised the Congress for what he called 60 years of neglect. “Seventy years – 60 were under Congress rule. Why didn’t you develop these areas?” he asked. He recalled former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s admission that Maoists were India’s biggest internal security threat. Shah further rejected comparisons between Naxals and freedom fighters Bhagat Singh or Birsa Munda, calling it “folly” to equate Constitution-violating armed insurgents with those who fought the British.

Baghel’s Sharp Rebuttal

Responding swiftly on social media, former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel dismissed Shah’s claims as “absolutely false.” He challenged the Centre to make public any evidence of his government shielding Maoists. “If there were objections or proof, why was it not revealed earlier?” Baghel asked. He maintained that his administration had continuously conducted operations, setting up security camps deep in Bastar’s remote areas – camps he said made today’s successes possible.

Political Row Intensifies

Baghel accused the Home Minister of politicising a sensitive national security issue. “My party has lost senior leaders to Naxal violence. This should not be about political mudslinging,” he said, urging a focus on facts rather than allegations. The Congress has demanded that Shah produce documented proof of his claims in Parliament.

What Next

Officials indicate that security forces will now focus on the two remaining Naxal-affected districts to achieve complete eradication. The government plans to intensify development work in Bastar, including schools, health centres and ration shops in every village. As per latest updates, rehabilitation of surrendered Maoists will continue, while operations against holdout cadres will persist. The political debate over the Congress’s role is likely to continue, with Baghel insisting that his government’s contribution to anti-Naxal efforts cannot be erased.