Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah meets families of martyrs, CAPFs personnel and victims of naxal violence in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh

📌 Summary:

• Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah met families of martyrs, CAPF personnel, and victims of Naxal violence in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on 18 May 2026
• He declared India is now ''Naxal-free'' — the August 24, 2024 pledge of Naxal-free India was fulfilled before the March 31, 2026 target
• Three biggest internal security challenges — Kashmir, Northeast, Naxalism — said to be largely overcome under Modi government
• Greatest contribution credited to District Reserve Guard (DRG), CoBRA commandos; combined efforts of CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, Chhattisgarh Police, DRG, STF, Bastar Fighters
• Roughly 3,000 surrendered Naxals to be rehabilitated with skill training
• Shaheed Veer Gunda Dhur Seva Dera Project launched in Bastar; of ~200 CAPF camps in Chhattisgarh, 70 will be transformed into Seva Dera camps as regional development models
• Each centre to facilitate online access to 370 government schemes — Ration & Aadhaar cards, food grain grievances, bank accounts, health services, dairy milk collection, agriculture guidance, skill development, adult education
• HM argued ''Maoism did not spread due to lack of development; armed Naxals obstructed development''; ''Developed India 2047 incomplete without Naxal-free India''
• Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, DyCM Vijay Sharma, HS Govind Mohan, IB Director Tapan Deka, DGPs of Naxal-affected states attended

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Linkages between development and extremism; Left Wing Extremism doctrine; rehabilitation of surrendered cadres; security-development paradigm in Bastar; role of CAPFs and specialised state forces (DRG, CoBRA)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• DRG = District Reserve Guard (Chhattisgarh state force of ex-Naxals & local youth)
• CoBRA = Commando Battalion for Resolute Action; jungle-warfare specialist unit of CRPF
• CAPFs = Central Armed Police Forces — CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, Assam Rifles
• Government declared Naxal-free India target as 31 March 2026 (pledge on 24 August 2024)
• ~200 CAPF camps in Chhattisgarh; 70 to become Shaheed Veer Gunda Dhur Seva Dera centres
• ~3,000 surrendered Naxals to be rehabilitated

🔑 Key Term: Shaheed Veer Gunda Dhur Seva Dera — Bastar-based integrated service-delivery centres in former CAPF camps, named after tribal freedom-fighter Gunda Dhur (leader of the 1910 Bhumkal rebellion against the British in Bastar)