Amit Shah vows to eliminate Naxals by March 2026 after Chhattisgarh attack

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday vowed to eliminate Naxals from the country by March 2026 and asserted that the sacrifice of those killed by the extremists in Chhattisgarh will not go in vain.

Shah's comments came after eight jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian driver were killed after Naxals blew up their vehicle with a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of DRG soldiers in an IED blast in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh). I express my deepest condolences to the families of the brave soldiers.

"It is impossible to express this grief in words, but I assure you that the sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. We will end Naxalism in India by March 2026," he said in a post on 'X' in Hindi.  Country determined to completely eradicate Naxalism: Prez Murmu  President Droupadi Murmu condoled the loss of lives in the Chhattisgarh Naxal attack and said that the country is determined to completely eradicate Naxalism.

"The Naxalite attack on security forces in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh is condemnable. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country. 

 

"Our country is determined to completely eradicate Naxalism," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.

This was the biggest strike by Maoists on security forces in the state in the last two years and the first assault in 2025.  Earlier, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said, "Information about a cowardly attack by Naxalites has come from Bijapur. I express condolences for the jawans. This is a cowardly action as jawans are working towards eliminating naxals. They have done this due to desperation and disappointment. This sacrifice of the jawans won't go in vain."