Naxalism on its last legs, will be wiped out in 3 years: Amit Shah

Animesh Singh

New Delhi, January 21

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that with the help of central and state agencies, the menace of Naxalism is now confined only to some pockets of Chhattisgarh. He said that Naxalism would be eliminated from the country within the next three years.

He underlined the need for a detailed road map to be drawn up by all the stakeholders concerned, particularly relating to the targeting of the entire ecosystem sustaining Left Wing Extremism (LWE). Shah made these observations during a review meeting of the LWE situation in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director General of CRPF, state’s DGP and Intelligence Bureau Director were present.

While appreciating the progress achieved in the fight against LWE, Shah directed the state police to fill up the remaining security gaps, ensure comprehensive investigations, closely monitor prosecution, choke finance streams and continue intelligence-led operations. “Coordinated action by the security forces will eliminate the Naxals from the country within the next three years. Supporters of Naxalism have to be identified and completely choked financially,” he said. He also stressed on the need to review all inputs shared through the multi-agency centre and operationalise verified inputs. Shah further stressed on the need for saturation coverage of central and state government schemes in LWE-affected districts and utilisation of security force camps to ensure the benefits of these schemes in villages in proximate areas.

The Home Minister also highlighted the need for proactive and sensitive handling of all local grievances about bona fide entitlements.

On Shah’s directions, a detailed interaction was held by the Union Home Secretary with the collectors and SSPs of the highly LWE-affected districts, officials aware of the development said.