‘Tricolour now flying proudly in red terror hills’: Amit Shah after security forces killed 31 Naxals

India is sure to be Naxal-free by March 31, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday as he hailed security forces for a major breakthrough in the ant-naxal operation.

 

At least 31 notorious Naxalites were killed by the forces in a 21-day-long comprehensive operation carried out in the dense forests around Karregutta hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

 

"I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Naxal-free by March 31, 2026," Shah wrote on X.

 

He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is determined to root out Naxalism from the country.

 

The Tricolour is now flying proudly in the hills on which red terror once reigned, he added.

 

The home minister claimed that Karregutta hills was the unified headquarters of big Naxal organisations such as People's Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) battalion No. 1, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC), Telangana State Committee (TSC), and Central Regional Committee (CRC).

 

He said along with Naxal training, strategies and weapons were also developed in this area.

 

"I congratulate our CRPF, STF and DRG soldiers who faced the Naxalites with their bravery and courage even in bad weather and inaccessible mountainous area. The whole country is proud of you," Shah said. 

 

Earlier in the day, CRPF Director General G.P. Singh and Chhattisgarh Director General of Police (DGP) Arun Dev Gautam said during the 21-day operation that started on April 21, the forces have recovered bodies of 31 Maoists, of which 28 have been identified.

 

"The eliminated Naxals identified so far carried a reward of Rs 1.72 crore on their heads. The forces have also seized a massive haul of weapons and destroyed four technical units of Naxals that used to manufacture weapons and IEDs," Vivekanand, Additional DG (Anti-Naxal operations) of Chhattisgarh Police, said.

 

India