Guwahati, Feb 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for its pivotal role in maintaining peace across India, highlighting its contributions in Jammu & Kashmir, the northeast, and Naxal-affected regions. Speaking at the 87th CRPF Day Parade—the first-ever held in the northeast—Shah said that after the abrogation of Article 370, not a single bullet was fired in J&K, with the CRPF ensuring law and order and reducing stone-pelting incidents to zero.
The Home Minister announced that the government aims to eliminate Naxalism nationwide by March 31, 2026, citing the success of operations like Operation Black Forest in the Karreguta Hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, where CRPF and CoBRA personnel neutralized 31 Naxals over 21 days in extremely challenging conditions.
Shah lauded the bravery, professionalism, and endurance of CRPF personnel, who operate in hostile terrains and extreme weather, and emphasized that the force has been crucial in breaking the back of Maoist operations in just three years.
“Because of the CRPF personnel, we can confidently say that by March 31, 2026, the country will be completely free from Naxalism,” he asserted, highlighting the force’s relentless counter-insurgency operations.
The Home Minister also recognized the CRPF’s contributions in maintaining peace during ethnic violence in Manipur, protecting cultural events like the Amarnath Yatra and Maha Kumbh, and thwarting terrorist attacks, including those targeting Parliament and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi site.
A total of 14 CRPF personnel were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry, five received the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, and five battalions were honored for outstanding performance. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and CRPF Director General G P Singh were also present.
Shah noted the CRPF’s historic journey from its inception in 1939 with two battalions to becoming the world’s largest Central Armed Police Force with 248 battalions and 3.25 lakh personnel. He highlighted the sacrifices of CRPF personnel, including 700 deaths in the northeast, 780 in Naxal-affected regions, and 540 in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that these sacrifices enabled development and peace in previously volatile areas.
The 87th CRPF Day Parade at Sarusajai Stadium showcased eight contingents, including women personnel, CoBRA units, and rapid action forces. The ceremony featured march-pasts, rifle drills, jungle-warfare exercises, and hostage-rescue simulations, reflecting the operational readiness and professionalism of the force.
Shah concluded by underlining the CRPF’s central role in India’s internal security, calling it a pillar of national safety, and reaffirmed that the country’s journey toward a Naxalism-free and peaceful India would be accomplished with the CRPF at the forefront.