Raipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will evaluate the progress of anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh on Saturday during his two-day visit to the state.
Shah arrived at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, where he was received by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, and other senior officials. He then proceeded to a hotel in Nava Raipur to prepare for his upcoming engagements.
The main focus of Shah’s visit will be a high-level meeting scheduled for today to assess the effectiveness of security measures in the Left Wing Extremism-affected areas of Bastar and Gariaband. He is expected to review the security situation in Bastar, particularly in the districts most impacted by Naxal violence, including Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kanker.
During this meeting, Shah will engage with security personnel involved in the anti-Naxal operations and evaluate the strategies implemented to combat the Naxal threat. This visit comes at a time when Chhattisgarh has achieved considerable success against Naxalism, with at least 130 Naxalites killed in encounters in 2025 alone, the majority of which occurred in the Bastar division. Additionally, over 105 Naxalites have been arrested, and 164 others have voluntarily surrendered as part of peace restoration efforts.
On Saturday, Shah will visit Dantewada, a significant Naxal stronghold, where he plans to offer prayers at the Maa Danteshwari Temple. He will also participate in the closing ceremony of the ‘Bastar Pandum’ festival, celebrating the region’s rich tribal traditions, art, and cuisine.
This visit reflects the government’s broader strategy to eliminate the Naxal threat by March 31, 2026.
