Guwahati: Amit Shah announced on Saturday that India will be free of Maoist insurgency by the end of March.
The Union Home Minister, who had claimed time and again that Maoist menace will be over by 2026, lauded the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for its role in ensuring that the campaign was moving towards a decisive end.
“I can’t even imagine how this big and historic a task with huge challenges is nearing its end in just three years. Based on the impressive work by CRPF, I want to reiterate to the nation that Maoist insurgency will be completely rooted out by March 31,” said Shah in his speech as the chief guest at the 87th raising day parade of CRPF in Assam’s capital city.
Shah mentioned Operation Black Forest, which was carried out by CRPF personnel at Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh in May 2025, leading to elimination of 27 top Maoist l
eaders including general secretary of CPI-Maoist Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju.
Fifty-four Maoists were arrested and 84 surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Maharashtra.
“When the country will finally get rid of Maoist insurgency, I will state without any hesitation that a big role in it was played by CRPF and its CoBRA Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) battalions,” Shah said.
The Home Minister also heaped praise on the force for its role in maintaining internal security over the past 86 years.
“Ten-twelve years ago there were three hotspots threatening the country’s internal security — Jammu & Kashmir, northeast and Left-wing Maoist insurgency. At present, we have been able to bring peace to a considerable extent in these areas,” Shah said.
According to the Home Minister, these three areas have become the country’s growth engine thanks to the ultimate sacrifice by CRPF, which has lost 2,270 of its personnel till date — 700 in northeast, 780 in Maoist insurgency affected areas and 540 in Jammu & Kashmir and around 250 in rest of the country.
“The CRPF, BSF and Jammu & Kashmir police have a big role in ensuring there was no major violence or incidents of stone-pelting in J&K after removal of A