BIJAPUR: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday emphasized the importance of balancing firmness against Naxalites with sensitivity towards local residents. During his visit to a CRPF forward operating base in Gundam village, Shah inspected various security innovations that have contributed to a 73% decline in counter-Naxal force fatalities over the past decade.
The advancements include all-terrain armored vehicles that allow a dozen personnel to fire medium machine guns while staying protected, sniper rifles for all security camps, grenade-catching nets mounted on camp structures, and drones for constant surveillance of surrounding villages to monitor Maoist activity and assist live operations. These measures were developed after analyzing 11 past Naxal ambushes to address vulnerabilities.
Shah interacted with jawans over lunch and visited a nearby village to assess development and welfare initiatives for the locals. Urging security forces to differentiate between armed Maoists and villagers, he said: “Be tough on Naxals, but ensure your actions do not alienate locals. Help them with basic needs like healthcare, build rapport, and earn their trust.”
