CRPF Raising Day: Shah hails role of paramilitary forces in curbing Naxalism

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday reiterated that the CRPF and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) would play a major role in eliminating Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026.

He was addressing the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF’s) 86th Raising Day function in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh.

“Naxalism has been confined to just four districts in India. The menace of Naxalism will end in the country by March 31, 2026, and the CAPFs and the CRPF, especially its CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, will play a major role in it,” Shah said.

CoBRA is a specialised unit of the CRPF, known for its proficiency in guerrilla and jungle warfare, particularly for combating Naxalites.

The Home Minister said, “The CRPF has set up over 400 forward operating bases in Naxal-affected areas. Consequently, violence in these regions has come down by more than 70 per cent and we are now close to ending it.”

He added that the CRPF’s contribution to national security was unparalleled, whether it was fighting terrorists in the Kashmir valley, ensuring peace in the Northeast, or confining hardened Naxalites to just four districts.

Earlier, he inspected the CRPF Raising Day parade in Neemuch. Before attending the ceremonial parade, Shah also paid tributes to the CRPF’s fallen heroes.

The CRPF Day is celebrated every year on March 19, as it was on this day in 1950 that the flag was presented to the force by the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year, the parade was held on April 17 as part of the extended celebrations.

In Neemuch, on July 27, 1939, the ‘Crown Representative Police’ was established during the British rule, which was renamed as the Central Reserve Police Force by Sardar Patel on December 28, 1949.

India