Amit Shah Reviews Anti-Naxal Strategy in Chhattisgarh; 51 Maoists Surrender

Shah is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting of state and Central security officials late on Saturday night to assess counterinsurgency measures in view of the target date. Sources said the meeting would be attended by senior officials from security forces and intelligence agencies.

On Sunday, the home minister is expected to chair another high-level review meeting focusing on the security situation in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha. The meeting will review the progress of anti-Naxal operations and intelligence inputs, sources said.

“The meeting may prepare a strategy to end the remaining vestiges of Left Wing Extremism in the country,” a senior police officer said.

Shah is also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the three-day ‘Bastar Pandum’ festival at Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar, on Monday before concluding his visit.

Meanwhile, 51 Maoists carrying a cumulative reward of ₹1.61 crore surrendered before the police in Sukma and Bijapur districts of south Bastar on Saturday. While 21 Maoists surrendered in Sukma, 30 laid down arms in Bijapur.

Police said the Maoists who surrendered in Sukma handed over three AK-47 rifles, two self-loading rifles, one INSAS rifle, five single-shot rifles, three barrel grenade launchers and explosives.

The surrender coincided with the home minister’s visit to the state to review counterinsurgency operations.