Chhattisgarh Govt Announces ₹1 Crore Grant for Naxal-Free Panchayats; Minister Slams Opposition Over Encounter Remarks
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has announced a ₹1 crore grant for panchayats declared free from Naxal influence, aimed at fostering the development of villages under their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant has raised concerns over recent Naxal encounters, alleging that the government is rolling out a “red carpet” for industrialists in Bastar. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma dismissed these claims, stating that spreading misinformation is a sin and reaffirming the government’s firm stance against Naxalism.
Security Forces Eliminate 30 Naxals in Bastar Operations
Security forces have eliminated 30 Naxals in two separate encounters—26 in Bijapur and four in Kanker. Addressing the media, Home Minister Vijay Sharma termed these operations a significant achievement in the fight against Naxalism, reinforcing the government’s commitment to completely eradicating the insurgency.
Major Encounter Yields Large Cache of Weapons
The Deputy CM revealed that special operations were carried out in Bijapur and Kanker-Narayanpur, leading to major breakthroughs:
✅ Bijapur: 26 Naxals were neutralized in a joint operation by DRG, STF, and Bastar Fighters.
✅ Kanker-Narayanpur: Four Naxals were eliminated by security forces.
✅ Weapons and explosives: A significant cache of arms and explosives was seized from the encounter sites.
✅ Infrastructure development: A 90-km alternative route from Pamed (Bijapur) to Telangana has been completed, improving connectivity for local residents.
Government’s Push to Integrate Remote Bastar Regions
The Home Minister outlined the government’s efforts to integrate Bastar’s remote regions into the mainstream, highlighting key initiatives:
📌 Reopening of a weekly market in Kondapalli after 25 years.
📌 Installation of 577 mobile towers, enhancing communication in rural areas.
📌 Establishment of 48 new polling stations, with the national flag hoisted at 30 locations for the first time.
New Rehabilitation Policy for Naxal-Affected Regions
The government has introduced a new rehabilitation policy for Naxal-affected regions, with key provisions:
✔ Surrendered Naxals will receive ₹10,000 in financial assistance and a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
✔ Mass surrenders will receive double the financial aid.
✔ Families of martyred security personnel will have their grievances addressed at the IG range office on the second Wednesday of every month.
✔ Memorials for fallen soldiers will be constructed under the “Veer Balidan Yojana”, with the tendering process already completed.
₹1 Crore Grant for Naxal-Free Panchayats
✔ Panchayats that are officially declared free from Naxal influence will receive a ₹1 crore development grant.
✔ The Panchayat Department is actively working on the Naxal surrender program.
✔ Under the “Niyad Nella Naar” scheme, 25 new security camps will be established to strengthen law enforcement.
✔ The government has set a target to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 2026.
Opposition Criticism & Government Response
Opposition leader Charandas Mahant questioned the motives behind the recent encounters, suggesting they were orchestrated to pave the way for economic activities in Bastar.
“Who will conduct these economic activities? Which big industrialists are coming for whom this red carpet is being rolled out?” he asked.
Rejecting these claims, Home Minister Vijay Sharma responded sharply:
“Spreading such misinformation is a sin. Is this why the Congress government failed to take strict action against Naxals?”
The Chhattisgarh government has made it clear that its war on Naxalism will continue with full force, with more large-scale security operations expected in the coming days.
