Union Home Minister Visits Bastar Region on Chaitra Navratri
Dantewada (Chhattisgarh), April 5 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at the revered Danteshwari temple in Dantewada on Saturday, marking his visit to the heart of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region—ground zero for the ongoing intensified operations against Naxalites.Shah was accompanied by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharmaas he took darshan of Goddess Danteshwari on the penultimate day of Chaitra Navratri. The 14th-century temple, located approximately 400 km from the state capital Raipur, holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in south Bastar.
Shah to Attend Bastar Pandum Festival, Review Security Operations
The Union Home Minister is on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. He arrived in Raipur on Friday night and is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the Bastar Pandum festival, a state-backed cultural event, later today in Dantewada. The event reflects the region's rich tribal heritage and community spirit.Following the festival, Shah will interact with commanders of the security forces deployed in the region for anti-Naxal operations. In the evening, he is set to chair a high-level review meeting on anti-Naxal strategies in Naya Raipur, post 5 pm, before departing for Delhi.
Anti-Naxal Offensive Sees Major Gains
Since the BJP government took charge in Chhattisgarh in 2023, anti-Naxal operations have gained significant momentum. Security forces have neutralized nearly 350 Naxalites, predominantly in the Bastar region, since January 2024.In a major development on March 29, 18 Naxalites, including 11 women, were killed in twin encounters—one of the most impactful strikes in the region this year.
Amit Shah has consistently reiterated the government's goal to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. Reflecting on the progress, he announced on April 1 that the number of most-affected districts by Left-Wing Extremism has now been halved—from 12 to 6—marking a major milestone in the national counterinsurgency efforts.
Stay updated with more developments from Chhattisgarh and nationwide security updates.
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