Bastar — India’s Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that the struggle against Left-wing extremism (LWE) appears to be nearing its end in the nation as he praised Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) members for removing obstacles to the development of Maoist-affected districts.
Speaking at the 84th CRPF Raising Day celebration in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, Shah claimed that security forces have successfully fought the LWE for the past nine years on all fronts.
He claimed that in addition to achieving victory by putting them on the defensive, they had also encouraged development among the tribes. “Left wing fanatics caused delays in the building of schools, roads, and mobile towers. As the minister of the interior, I want to state that the CRPF members alone are to be credited for eliminating obstacles to these development projects in Maoist-affected districts”.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the CRPF, and home to the Karanpur camp, where the event took place, lies about 20 kilometres from Jagdalpur, the Bastar district’s administrative centre.
According to Shah, “LWE violence incidents decreased by 76% in the country when compared to 2010, while at the same time, the number of fatalities (among civilians and security forces) decreased by 78%”.
Shah urged security forces to continue the courageous struggle against extremists till they are totally eradicated, pointing out that the CRPF’s annual celebration was being hosted in a LWE-affected area of Bastar for the first time.
Seven districts make up the Bastar division, which has been battling the LWE for more than three decades: Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur. To address LWE issues, 38 CRPF units are now stationed in Chhattisgarh.
Speaking to the present relatives of the martyred security personnel, Shah stated, “The struggle against Left Wing Extremism seems to be in the final phases of victory and the supreme sacrifice given by your family members of security personnel has a big contribution in it”. “Golden letters will be used to commemorate their sacrifices in the victorious saga”.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigative Agency (NIA), he claimed, have been acting vehemently to stop funds to LWE, were also given praise by the minister.
Shah added that the CRPF and the local police had made it feasible for the security void in Bihar and Jharkhand to finally be filled (involved in anti-Maoist operations there).
Shah emphasised the actions taken by the Union government in support of the central armed police forces (CAPFs) and claimed that the Modi administration has been concentrating on CRPF modernization.
He continued, “The Modi government is committed to giving security forces facilities and supporting them in their suffering”.
Shah also went to the Potakpali forward operating base, which is located in the heart of Sukma’s jungle and was a Maoist stronghold until just last year.
According to CRPF officials, Potakpali is significant since, up until last year, security forces and the local government were unable to access there.
The opening of a school, health centre, and ration distribution centre are just a few of the notable developments that have occurred in the area since then, according to a CRPF spokeswoman.
Shah also went to the hospital, examined the amenities offered to the people, and spoke with the pupils at the brand-new school.
