Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated a firm stance against Naxalism, announcing a new deadline for its complete eradication. Speaking at the 60th Directors General and Inspectors General of Police conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Shah declared that the nation would be free from the Naxal menace before the next all-India DGsP and IGsP gathering. This ambitious goal underscores the government’s commitment to internal security.
The Home Minister highlighted the significant progress made under the current administration, citing the strengthening of the security grid with the construction of 586 fortified police stations. This initiative has dramatically reduced the number of Naxal-affected districts, shrinking the figure from 126 in 2014 to a mere 11 at present. Shah emphasized that Naxalism, alongside issues in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir, are being addressed with lasting solutions, aiming to bring these regions in line with the rest of the country.
Furthermore, Shah called for a comprehensive, 360-degree offensive against narcotics and organized crime. He urged security forces to focus on intelligence accuracy, clear objectives, and collaborative action to disrupt extremist activities, radicalization, and drug trafficking networks. A proactive approach, involving close cooperation between state police forces and the Narcotics Control Bureau, is crucial to dismantling these operations from local to international levels and bringing perpetrators to justice. The DGsP and IGsP conference itself was lauded as a vital platform for developing strategies to tackle internal security challenges, bolstered by legislative reforms like the strengthened NIA and UAPA, and new criminal laws designed to modernize policing.