C’garh: Central Forces Begin Withdrawing From Bastar As Maoist Influence Declines

The Central Para Military Forces (CPMFs) have started withdrawing from the tribal region of Bastar in Chhattisgarh following a sharp drop in the Maoist influence.

The withdrawal of the Central forces began with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vacating the security camp at Renganar in Dantewada district in south Bastar.

The CRPF camp at Ranganar was set up a decade and half ago to curb movements of Maoists on the key road linking Dantewada and Sukma districts in south Bastar.

The withdrawal of CRPF from the Renganar camp marks the beginning of the phased removal of the Central forces from Bastar division, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

“The Renganar camp will be transitioned into a ‘Seva Dera’ (public service/ skill Centre) to generate employment for the local people”, Dantewada district collector Devesh Kumar Dhruv told the media.

Sources said that the CRPF has started withdrawing from other security camps in Metapal, Jaram, and Badegudra in Dantewada district.

More than 65,000 personnel from CPMFs have been deployed in Bastar region comprising seven districts of Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma, to handle counterinsurgency and security in the tribal region.

The key units of CPMFs deployed in Bastar include the CRPF, and its specialized units like CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), alongside forces like Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Around 400 operational camps and forward bases span the Bastar region.

Chhattisgarh was declared free of armed Maoist activities on March 31, 2026.

The Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and select security camps are proposed to be handed over to the local police forces after evaluation of the security situation, while some other camps will be transitioned into ‘Seva Deras’ as security improves, sources said.