Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday felicitated personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) forces in New Delhi for the successful execution of ‘Operation Black Forest’ on Karreguttalu hill. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma were also present at the event.
Hailing the operation as the biggest anti-Naxal action ever conducted in the region, Shah praised the courage and determination of the security forces. “The bravery and valour of the jawans during ‘Operation Black Forest’ will be remembered as a golden chapter in the history of anti-Naxal operations,” he said.
Shah asserted that the Modi government is determined to root out Naxalism. “We will not rest until all Naxalites either surrender, are caught, or eliminated. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will make India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026,” he added.
Despite facing extreme heat, high altitude, and the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the joint forces succeeded in destroying a major Naxal base camp, including their material dumps and supply chains on Karreguttalu hill.
The Home Minister also underlined the destructive impact of Naxalism on some of India’s least developed regions. “For decades, Naxalites shut down schools and hospitals and prevented government schemes from reaching the people. Due to sustained anti-Naxal operations, there is now a new sunrise in the lives of 6.5 crore people in the area from Pashupatinath to Tirupati,” he said.
He further assured that the government is committed to improving the lives of security personnel, particularly those who have suffered serious injuries during anti-Naxal operations.
During Operation Black Forest in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur, security forces eliminated 27 dreaded Maoists. In addition, 54 Naxalites were arrested and 84 others surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.