Most districts in Chhattisgarh seeing drop in Naxal activity: IG Bastar

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Naxal activity in Bastar and many regions of India has ‘reduced significantly’ due to ongoing operations against the banned and ‘illegal’ CPI-M outfit, a senior police official said.

Bastar (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 13 (HBTV): Naxal activity in Bastar and many regions of India has ‘reduced significantly’ due to ongoing operations against the banned and ‘illegal’ CPI-M outfit, a senior police official said.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, P Sundarraj, told ANI, ‘As a result of operations against the banned and illegal CPI-M outfit, Naxal activity in Bastar and many other regions of India has reduced significantly. Four districts of Bastar sub-division—Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur, and Kanker—were identified as the most affected LWE districts. Six districts of Chhattisgarh, including Bastar, Dhamtari, and Rajnandgaon, will be specially monitored for any kind of resurgence.’

He said that most districts in Chhattisgarh are witnessing a decline in Naxal-related violence.

‘Only 18 districts in the country are currently considered Naxal-affected, while 28 districts are listed as districts of maximum thrust. A district of maximum thrust means Naxal activity has declined considerably but requires strict observation. Most districts in Chhattisgarh fall in this category,’ the IG added.

In a major success for the Chhattisgarh government’s anti-Naxal campaign, 18 Naxals, including four members of the notorious Battalion No. 1, surrendered before the police in Sukma district on Tuesday.

Officials said the surrender was influenced by the state government's rehabilitation scheme Niyad Nellanar and was seen as a significant development in South Bastar, a region long plagued by insurgent violence. Among those who surrendered, several were known to be active in four different Naxal battalions.

Sukma Superintendent of Police, Kiran G Chavan, said, ‘Influenced by the Niyad Nellanar scheme, 18 Naxals have surrendered today. Four are associated with Battalion No. 1. Naxals from four different battalions have surrendered, including those active in South Bastar.’

The SP added that the surrendered cadres would receive full rehabilitation support under the government’s surrender and reintegration policy.

‘As they have surrendered, they will get all the benefits of the schemes functioning under the state government. I appeal to all Naxals to come forward and surrender,’ Chavan added.

(ANI)