Bastar
A new wind has started blowing in Naxal affected Bastar of Chhattisgarh. Here in the remote area of Abujhmad, where once the sound of bullets used to echo, now the sound of cement mixer can be heard. The first school after independence is being built in Rekavaya village. This change is the result of aggressive operations by security forces, in which 222 Maoists have been killed this year.
Development projects here are also progressing rapidly. Due to which basic facilities like electricity, roads and water are reaching Bastar. The government is also making changes in the rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists. However, due to this military operation, civilians are also becoming victims of violence. Maoists are also attacking common people. The prospects for peace talks are still bleak. This new chapter of Bastar is being led by a tribal Chief Minister, who is expected to better understand the problems of the region.
Peace of change amidst the sound of bullets
This village is situated in the dense forests of Abujhmad, about 300 kilometers from Raipur. The transition amid the sound of gunfire was not easy. Earlier this year, eight Maoists were killed in Rekawaya. Only after this, security camps could be established here and it became possible to transport bricks and cement through the Indravati river for the construction of the school. This is the same school which was once run by Maoists.
Paths of development open in Bastar
This campaign against Maoists in Bastar is not limited to Rekawaya only. Security forces have killed 222 Maoists across Bastar. This number is much higher than in the last five years. This aggressive campaign of the Vishnu Dev Sai led BJP government has also driven out the Maoists from their stronghold Abujhmad. This has opened the way for development in Bastar. Basic facilities like electricity, roads and water are now reaching the areas which were once under the control of Maoists.
50 schools closed two decades ago reopened
About 50 schools, which were closed two decades ago due to Maoist violence, have been reopened. Some of these schools have been rebuilt by the same Maoists who once demolished them. These Maoists have now given up their arms and joined the mainstream of society. Along with this, they are trying to start a new life.
222 Maoists eliminated
The success of the security forces this year can be gauged from the fact that while 20 Maoists were killed in 2023, 222 Maoists have been killed so far this year. 31 Maoists were killed in a single operation in Narayanpur.
Symbol of revival of dreaded Naxalite in the village
Chhattisgarh government is rapidly progressing development projects after the success of security forces. Puvarti, the ancestral village of dreaded Maoist commander Hidma, has become a symbol of the revival of Bastar. In November this year, many villages around Purvarti got electricity for the first time since independence. Road construction is also going on here. A security camp set up earlier this year has played a key role in this change. Thanks to this camp, the tricolor was hoisted in Purvi after decades on this Republic Day.
Government is winning the hearts of Maoists also
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised to wipe out the Maoists by March 2026. The government seems to be successful in winning the hearts of not only the people of Bastar but also the Maoist workers. This year, 802 Maoist workers have surrendered, the highest in seven years. The total reward on them was more than Rs 8.2 crore. Earlier in 2016, 1,210 Maoists had surrendered. The government has recently changed its rehabilitation policy. 15,000 houses have been approved for surrendered Maoists and victims of Naxalite violence. Additionally, a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month will also be given for skill development.
Bastar Range IG says
Bastar Range IG P. Sundarraj told our colleague TOI that 2024 was important for the soldiers of Bastar Range on all fronts. We also penetrated those areas which were considered impenetrable strongholds of Maoists. The unprecedented successes in Abujhmad and South Bastar have not only boosted the morale of the security forces but also given hope to the local people that the Naxalite threat will end soon. It is not only the number of Naxalites killed but the withdrawal of high-ranking cadres like State Committee level cadres from the Naxalite ecosystem that has given us an edge this season. He further said that the situation has changed by increasing our operational and development reach in the deprived areas of South Bastar, West Bastar and Maad region. Providing basic amenities like PDS shops, Anganwadi centers and household electrification in villages has bridged the development gap and increased trust between the local population and the government. We are hopeful of better results in the upcoming season.
