Page 26 - NIS English 16-30 April, 2026

COVER STORY | Naxal-Free India

Special Courts

n The NIA was strengthened, and State
Investigative Agencies (SIAs) were established in
Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states.

n Four LWE Special Courts were inaugurated
in Chhattisgarh, and exclusive courts were also
established in other states. What changed after 2014? The CAPF
280 new camps have been established remains the same. The State Police
since 2019, along with 15 Joint Task
forces, too, remain unchanged. What was
Forces and deployment of 6 Central
Reserve Police Force battalions to introduced after 2014 was a clear-cut policy
support State Police operations
backed by strong political will. Narendra
Modi made it unequivocally clear that
unlawful activities would not be tolerated in
any corner of this country

Amit Shah, Union Home Minister

GREEN ZONE OF DEVELOPMENT Today, regions like Bastar are no longer defined by
The past decade has, in a sense, marked an era of fear but by an atmosphere of celebration. There is
peace and progress. For a long time, the nation fell no doubt that after 2014, the central government
victim to various forms of violent incidents, be it ter- made sincere efforts to bring misguided youth back
rorism or Naxalism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the mainstream with sensitivity. Therefore, in a
states, “Hundreds of districts across the country are programme in October 2025, Narendra Modi said:
emerging from the clutches of Naxalism and breath- “Over the past decade, thousands of Naxalites have
ing the air of freedom. We take pride in the fact that laid down their arms. Let me give you figures from
our country’s Constitution prevails over bombs, the last 75 hours: one of the greatest satisfactions of
guns, and pistols; our Constitution is emerging my life is that in these 75 hours, 303 Naxalites have
victorious. For the nation’s bright future, it is clearly surrendered. At one time, they used to wield the
evident that what were once known as the ‘Red Cor- .303 rifle; today, 303 of them have surrendered. And
ridors’ are today transforming into ‘Green Growth these are not ordinary Naxalites-some had a bounty
Zones’.” The transformation witnessed in Nax- of ₹1 crore on their heads, some ₹15 lakh, and
al-affected states—particularly in Chhattisgarh—is others ₹5 lakh. All of them had rewards declared in
truly remarkable and inspiring. This state was once their names. A large quantity of weapons has also
defined by Naxalism and backwardness; today, that been recovered from them. All these individuals
very same state is becoming a symbol of prosperity, have given up guns and bombs and are ready to
security, and stability. Today, the ‘Bastar Olympics’ is embrace the Constitution of India. When a govern-
a topic of discussion in every corner of the country. ment is fully committed to the Constitution, even
In Chilkapalli village of Bijapur, electricity reached those who have gone down the wrong path turn
the residents for the very first time in seven decades. back and fix their eyes on the Constitution. They
In Rekavaya village of Abujhmad, construction are now joining the mainstream of development.
work for a school has commenced—a first since People are accepting that they were on the wrong
the country gained independence. Today, a breeze path. They spent five decades, sacrificing their entire
of developmental activity is sweeping through the youth, but the changes they had envisioned did not
villages of these previously affected regions. Now, in come. Now, they will move forward with faith in the
place of the red flag, the tricolour waves with pride. Constitution of India. n

24 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || April 16-30, 2026