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.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will remain on a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh from May 17 to May 19, with major programmes scheduled in Raipur and Bastar region. The visit is expected to focus on security preparedness, expansion of emergency response systems, development works in Naxal-affected areas and coordination between states through the Central Zonal Council meeting. Officials said the tour has been planned around improving governance, policing infrastructure and public services in sensitive regions of the state.

According to the official schedule, Amit Shah will reach Raipur on Sunday night by a special Indian Air Force aircraft from Ahmedabad. He is scheduled to land at Swami Vivekananda Airport around 8:10 pm before heading to a private hotel for an overnight stay. Security arrangements across the capital city have been intensified ahead of the visit. Police personnel and administrative officials have been deployed along the airport route, hotels and programme venues, with authorities maintaining high alert status throughout the tour.

One of the major highlights of the visit will be the statewide expansion of the Dial-112 emergency response service. On Monday morning, Amit Shah will attend a programme at the Police Training School in Raipur, where he will flag off 400 new Dial-112 vehicles. The expansion is being seen as a significant move by the state government to strengthen emergency policing and improve public response time in both urban and rural areas.

Officials said the Dial-112 facility was previously operational in only 16 districts of Chhattisgarh. After the latest expansion, the service will cover all districts and police stations across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma had earlier stated that the upgraded system aims to ensure quicker police assistance during emergencies and improve law enforcement coordination across remote regions.

The state government is also set to introduce modern mobile forensic units in all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh during the visit. These advanced vehicles are equipped with scientific investigation tools designed to assist police teams at crime scenes. Officials believe the units will help speed up investigations and improve the quality of evidence collection, especially in districts where forensic infrastructure has remained limited.

After concluding the Raipur programme, Amit Shah will leave for Jagdalpur by special aircraft before proceeding to Netanar in Bastar district through a Border Security Force helicopter. At Netanar, the Union Home Minister will inaugurate a Jan Suvidha Kendra aimed at improving access to government services for rural residents in remote tribal areas. Administrative officials said the centre is expected to simplify public service delivery and reduce dependency on district headquarters for basic documentation and welfare-related work.

The Bastar region has remained a key focus area for both security operations and development initiatives due to its long history of Left Wing Extremism. Government officials view the latest visit as an effort to balance development measures with security preparedness in the region. Political observers also believe the visit carries administrative and strategic importance ahead of upcoming local body and organisational activities in the state.

Following the Netanar programme, Amit Shah will visit Amar Vatika in Jagdalpur to pay tribute to security personnel who lost their lives during anti-Naxal operations. The tribute ceremony is expected to hold symbolic significance for security forces operating in Bastar and surrounding districts. Several major anti-Naoal campaigns have been conducted in the region over the past few years, resulting in casualties among security personnel as well as intensified operations against extremist groups.

Later in the day, meetings related to development and security review will be held at Badal Academy and a private hotel in Jagdalpur. Senior administrative officers and public representatives are expected to participate in discussions focusing on roads, healthcare, education, connectivity, rehabilitation programmes and internal security measures. Departmental presentations are also likely to be made on infrastructure projects and welfare schemes currently underway in Bastar division.

A cultural programme titled “Bastar Ke Sang” has also been included in the itinerary. During the event, local artists will present Bastar’s traditional tribal culture, folk dances and regional art forms. Amit Shah is also expected to interact with Bharatiya Janata Party workers and local leaders during the evening programme before staying overnight in Jagdalpur.

On May 19, the Union Home Minister will chair the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Jagdalpur. The meeting is likely to be attended by chief ministers and senior officials from four states. Discussions are expected to focus on inter-state coordination, regional development, security management and administrative cooperation, particularly in Naxal-affected areas. Officials indicated that several pending coordination issues between participating states may also come up for discussion during the meeting.

After the meeting, Amit Shah is scheduled to address a press conference where key decisions and policy discussions related to security and development may be announced. He will later depart for Delhi from Jagdalpur by special aircraft. The visit is being closely watched at both political and administrative levels as it combines governance review, policing reforms and regional development priorities under a broader national security framework

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Late Night Rewa Roadside Argument Between Woman, Dial 112 Cop Caught on Video

The brief confrontation took place near Deep Jyoti School. A passerby filmed the exchange, but police have not yet issued any statement about what triggered the dispute.

A late-night argument between a young woman and a police constable posted with the Dial 112 emergency response team spilled onto a deserted road in Rewa’s Samaan police station area, drawing a small crowd of onlookers before it reportedly ended. A video of the exchange, filmed by a passerby, has now surfaced.

Argument Near School After Midnight

The incident occurred around 1:15 a.m. near Deep Jyoti School. The exact sequence of events remains unclear, but the video shows the woman visibly agitated, speaking sharply to the uniformed officer. The constable is seen present at the spot, responding to her. The tone of the conversation, based on the video’s visuals, appears tense.

What the Viral Clip Shows

The footage, recorded on a mobile phone by someone passing through the area, does not capture how the confrontation began. It only shows the middle of the exchange. Neither party is seen getting physically aggressive, but their raised voices attracted attention in the otherwise quiet late-night setting.

Crowd Gathers, No Official Word Yet

Locals who gathered at the spot told reporters later that they tried to calm the situation, though they were not sure who had called for the Dial 112 team to arrive there in the first place. A few residents speculated the woman may have sought help, while others said the constable might have stopped her for questioning. None of this has been confirmed.

Police Department Maintains Silence

So far, neither the woman nor the police department has released any official statement. Senior officials at Samaan police station said they were “looking into the matter” but did not confirm if any complaint had been registered. Dial 112 control room officials also declined to comment, saying the constable involved had not filed any preliminary report about the incident.

Why the Delay in Response Matters

For now, the reason behind the argument remains unknown. The absence of an official version has left room for speculation, especially since the video continues to circulate locally. What is clear is that the confrontation happened well past midnight, and neither side has clarified what led to the face-off.

Local authorities are expected to review the footage and question the constable as part of an internal enquiry. But with no formal complaint from either side yet, it remains a roadside argument preserved on video — tense, unresolved, and now public.