Anti-Maoist forces to be deployed for regular policing in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like Commandos of Chhattisgarh’s specialised anti-Maoist District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters will be deployed at police stations across the seven districts of the Bastar region, marking a shift from counter-insurgency roles to regular policing, people aware of the matter said. Around 4,000 personnel will be part of this transition, they added. Surrendered Maoists in Chhattisgarh Dantewada. (AFP/Representative)The move comes amid a significant decline in Left-wing extremism in the region, with Union home minister Amit Shah telling Parliament on Monday that India is now Maoist-free. Shah’s statement came a day before the government’s deadline of March 31, 2026, to eradicate Left-wing extremism. Shah said 4,839 Maoists surrendered, 706 were killed, and 2,218 were arrested and jailed in the last three years. The state authorities have also maintained that Bastar is largely free of armed Maoist presence. Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, and Kanker districts were the epicentre of Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh for decades. The DRG and Bastar Fighters were raised to combat Maoist insurgency and largely comprise local tribals and surrendered Maoists. Their familiarity with the forested terrain made them key to anti-Maoist operations, often leading from the front during encounters and search operations. Officials said DRG and Bastar Fighters personnel will be integrated into routine policing work due to their minimal operational requirements following some training. Inspector general (Bastar) Sundarraj Pattilingam said the training programme will cover investigation of routine crimes, traffic management, forensic procedures, and maintenance of law and order. “Since operational duty is now almost negligible...they will now be engaged in basic policing.” He added that women commandos will be given specialised training to deal with cases related to child and women trafficking and crime-solving skills. Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening police presence at the grassroots level and improving outreach in remote tribal areas by utilising personnel familiar with the local language and geography. Pattilingam said the state government will take a call on the anti-Maoist Special Task Force as it comes under its command. The Union government will decide on the withdrawal of central forces, he added. State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years.Read More