Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced that anti-Naxal operations would go on uninterrupted during the monsoon season, marking a departure from the traditional monsoon break in operations due to season-specific hindrances such as overflowing rivers and jungle tracts.
Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh's Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Shah reaffirmed that security forces would continue their effort to eradicate Naxalism by 2026.
"Each monsoon, Naxalites used to enjoy a break because of logistical issues. But now this time, we will not allow them to sleep," Shah added, lending strength to the government's determination to keep pressure on insurgents.
He declared the target remained set on the "31/3" deadline — ending Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
More than 400 Maoist militants have been killed since January 2023, the most visible one being Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju. The 70-year-old general secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist) was slain in Bastar on May 21.
Shah invited Naxals to surrender and come aboard the country's development journey, declaring the current surrender policy provided rich incentives. He eliminated any prospect of talks with insurgents, declaring, "There is no need for talks. Simply give up arms and come to the mainstream."
The Home Minister also guaranteed that the surrendered members would be given all the support that was promised by both the central and state governments. "We will attempt to assist them further," he said.
Shah was in Chhattisgarh to launch foundation stones of a campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and a Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).
He stated that these institutions would make the country's criminal justice system more modern through evidence-based processes facilitated by forensic science.
He emphasized that the entire implementation of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam would render India's justice system one of the most modern, scientific, and effective in the world.
Under the new laws, every FIR, regardless of where it is filed, would ensure settlement up to the level of the Supreme Court within a period of three years, he believed.
The reforms constitute a requirement for forensic teams to investigate all crimes in which the maximum punishment is more than seven years. Shah said this would boost India's conviction rate and deliver justice in time.
The CFSL will be constructed at a cost of ₹123 crore, and the NFSU campus at Nava Raipur will be constructed at a cost of ₹145 crore, both to be completed in three years' time. He urged Chhattisgarh's youth to avail themselves of this "job-guaranteeing" education.
Shah estimated India would churn out 32,000 forensic professionals every year in the next few years, a number higher than the existing demand of 30,000.
Referring to a survey, he mentioned that the world forensic technology market, which is worth $20 billion presently, could reach $55 billion by 2036, with India likely to hold 9 per cent of this market.
The introduction of a CFSL in Chhattisgarh will imply that local governments no longer have to transport forensic samples to Delhi for examination. The state already possesses regional forensic laboratories in Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Durg, and Jagdalpur.
Shah also opened the NFSU's Sejbahar transit campus and launched i-Hub Chhattisgarh, which is focused on incubation and youth entrepreneurship support.
He averred that a center in Gujarat has been successful and now Chhattisgarh youths need to emerge as MSME leaders to foster an environment of "industrial adventurism".
He added that even though the Chhattisgarh government had inked MoUs of ₹5 lakh crore value in recent investment summits, development in the state would really gain momentum only when its own people turn into job creators.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, and Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain attended the function.
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