TFP Bureau, Raipur/New Delhi, September 3, 2025: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Wednesday felicitated personnel of the CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the elite Cobra unit in New Delhi for their exemplary courage during ‘Operation Black Forest’, described as the biggest anti-Naxal operation ever carried out on Karreguttalu hill in Bastar. The event was also attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who joined in honouring the forces.
Shah lauded the joint operation as a “golden chapter” in India’s counter-insurgency history. “Despite extreme heat, high altitude, dense forests and the constant danger of IEDs, our brave security personnel showed indomitable courage, destroyed the Naxalite base camp, dismantled their material dump and supply chain, and brought glory to the nation,” he said.
The Home Minister underscored that the operation was not only a tactical success but also a morale booster in India’s decades-long fight against left-wing extremism. He declared that the Modi government remains committed to completely eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026. “We will not rest until every Naxalite either surrenders, is arrested, or eliminated. India will be free of this menace,” he asserted.
During the interaction, Shah met the jawans personally, praised their discipline and high morale, and assured them of the Centre’s full support. He emphasized that the government was taking every step to improve the living and working conditions of security forces, especially those who have sustained serious injuries in anti-Naxal operations.
Highlighting the broader impact of such operations, Shah said that left-wing extremism had for decades hindered development in some of India’s most backward areas, shutting down schools, disrupting healthcare services, and obstructing welfare schemes. “Because of our security forces’ sacrifices, a new dawn has come into the lives of 6.5 crore people in the region stretching from Pashupatinath to Tirupati,” he said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai also expressed gratitude to the security forces, noting that the success of ‘Operation Black Forest’ had strengthened the morale of Chhattisgarh’s people, especially those living in the affected regions. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma praised the coordination between central and state forces, describing it as a model of cooperative federalism in tackling security challenges.
Security experts have pointed out that the dismantling of the Karreguttalu hill base is a strategic breakthrough, as it was one of the most fortified strongholds of the Naxalites in Bastar. The elimination of this camp is expected to significantly weaken the insurgents’ logistical and operational capacity in the region.
As the government pushes forward with its anti-Naxal roadmap, today’s felicitation ceremony in New Delhi was both a recognition of the sacrifices of the security forces and a reaffirmation of the Centre’s resolve to bring peace and development to India’s most affected regions.
