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

The move comes amid a decline in Left-wing extremism, with Union home minister Amit Shah telling Parliament on Monday that India is now Maoist-free

Published on: Apr 2, 2026, 13:08:56 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Chhattisgarh

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.