Amit Shah honours forces for ‘Operation Black Forest’, vows LWE-free India by 2026

RAIPUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah met and honoured security personnel from the CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CoBRA in New Delhi on Tuesday for their role in ‘Operation Black Forest’ at the Karreguttalu hills of Bijapur district in Bastar division. He described it as one of the largest anti-Maoist operations to date. The 21-day operation, conducted in April–May, neutralised 31 Maoists.Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma were present at the felicitation.Calling the operation a “golden chapter” in the history of anti-Naxal campaigns, Shah congratulated the joint force for displaying exceptional courage in harsh summer conditions, difficult terrain, and under the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He said the operation dismantled the Maoists’ base camp at Karreguttalu, destroyed material dumps, and disrupted supply lines.“We will not rest until each Maoist has either surrendered, been arrested, or eliminated. We will make India free of Naxalism,” Shah said, adding that the government aims to end Left-Wing Extremism by 31 March 2026.He added that insurgents had harmed some of the country’s least developed regions by shutting schools and hospitals and blocking welfare schemes, but sustained operations have “brought a new dawn to the lives of 6.5 crore people from Pashupatinath to Tirupati.”Shah also assured support for personnel injured in anti-Naxal actions, stating that the Centre is committed to ensuring they can lead dignified lives.The 21-day operation in the Karreguttalu hills of Bijapur district, bordering Telangana, from 21 April to 11 May, resulted in the deaths of 31 Maoists, including 15 women cadres.