Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday vowed a befitting response to the Naxals, who killed 22 security personnel in Chhattisgarh, and said the battle against the extremists will be won through joint efforts of the Central and State Governments.
Shah also reviewed with top security officials the situation arising out of the violence perpetrated by the Naxals. “‘Our security men have lost their lives. We will not tolerate this bloodshed and a befitting reply will be given at an appropriate time,” he said in Assam’s Sualkuchi, before leaving for New Delhi after cutting short his electioneering in the State.
Shah said search operations are continuing in Chhattisgarh following the encounter. The HM also said the Government will continue its fight against such enemies of peace and progress.
“Our fight against Naxalites will continue with strength, perseverance and intensity and we will take it to the end,” he said.
Soon after his return from Assam, the HM held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Chhattisgarh. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar and senior officials of the Home Ministry and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) attended the meeting, a Home Ministry official said.
The HM gave necessary instructions to deal with the emerging situation, another official said.
In the morning, as reports of recovery of more bodies started coming, the HM asked Director General of the Central Reserve Police
Force (CRPF) Kuldiep Singh to visit Chhattisgarh to assess the situation.
The dead include personnel from the elite CoBRA unit of the CRPF, the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) of Chhattisgarh.
Earlier, Shah said in a tweet that the valour of the security personnel who laid down their lives fighting the extremists will never be forgotten.
“I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forgettheir valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injuredrecover soon,” he said. “I want to assure the martyrs’ families and the country that thesacrifices the police personnel have made for the country will not go in vain,” Shah said.