New Delhi: Hours after top officers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police announced the conclusion of successful anti-Naxalite operations in Karregutta hills, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reached the forward operating base to take stock of the situation.
Sai reached the security camp in Galgam village of Bijapur Thursday, where he lay emphasis on the two-pronged approach of his government—fierce crackdown on suspected Maoist outfits and cadres, as well as taking developmental and welfare measures to people in remote villages.
Addressing the forces, he reiterated that his government has been looking to couple improvements in education and employment with inclusive development and strengthened security measures to end Maoist violence in the state and country.
A day earlier, a joint team of senior officers from the CRPF and state police, with CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh and Director General of Police Arun Dev Gautam, had spoken at length at a press conference about the 21-day operation in Karregutta hills.
The security forces managed to navigate the explosives-laden rugged terrain to recover around 450 improved explosive devices as well as eliminate 31 Maoist cadres, they had said.
Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Gautam hailed the operation, which began on 21 April and ended on 11 May, as the “largest and most extensive anti-Maoist operation to date”.
“This operation aimed to weaken the armed strength of the Maoists, neutralise their armed groups, clear them from these difficult terrains and dismantle the PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion,” he said.
‘Will end Naxalism before declared deadline’
In an interview with ThePrint’s Political Editor D.K. Singh earlier this month, Sai said that the policy to deal with Maoist violence was revamped after he assumed office in November 2023.
He added that specific steps such as constitution of a joint task force (JTF) with neighbouring states to strengthen the security apparatus in border regions had worked wonders for security forces in 15 months of his tenure.
Additionally, he said the government has also reached out to poor people with welfare measures such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana—which has further increased people’s faith in the government, unlike in the past.
“It’s a double engine government in Chhattisgarh and a new policy was thought-out and implemented to fulfil the resolution of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eradicate Naxalism in the country by 31 March, 2026. Joint task forces were made with the border states and we have taken every step to boost the morale of forces,” Sai told ThePrint.
He asserted that the government has come a long way, both in terms of reaching out to the Naxalites, appealing to them to shun violence and join the mainstream. He quantified the progress of the anti-Maoist drive and said that around 100 villages have been made free of the Naxalite threat and development schemes are reaching them through the Niyad Nellanar scheme.
In February, ThePrint had reported on the approach of the government through the scheme.
People’s trust in government has increased significantly and subsequently their trust in Naxalism has collapsed, according to Sai.
“Hardcore Naxalites are very less in number now and there will be a lot less remaining after the Karregutta encounter,” he said, adding that “the target of eradicating the Maoist threat will be achieved even before the publicly declared deadline of 31 March 2026”.
His government has, however, come under criticism from opponents, with his predecessor and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel alleging he was “losing grip” on the anti-Naxalite campaign in the state.
In a press conference at his Raipur residence Wednesday, Baghel attacked the Sai government and said conflicting statements had been made by the CM and home minister Vijay Sharma.
“On 8 May, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai claimed that 22 Naxalites were killed in ‘Operation Sankalp’. Home minister Vijay Sharma later denied any such operation and disputed the casualty figures. But 22 bodies reached the Bijapur district hospital for post-mortem,” he said.
“Facts emerging from the Bijapur anti-Naxal operation indicate a complete lack of control by the state government. Deputy CM and home minister Vijay Sharma is unfit for his position and should resign immediately,” he added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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