Amit Shah in Bastar for key security meet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in southern Chhattisgarh on Monday on a two-day visit. He is in Bastar to review security, development and administrative coordination in the region. His visit comes at a time when Maoist activity has seen a significant decline, with the government highlighting a shift towards stability and development in the region.

Before heading to Bastar, Shah launched the upgraded ‘Next Generation Dial-112’ emergency response service at the police parade ground in Mana, Raipur. In the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Assembly Speaker Raman Singh, he flagged off 400 emergency response vehicles and 32 mobile forensic vans.

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The Dial-112 system integrates police, fire and medical services under a single number. The vehicles are equipped with GPS, wireless communication, cameras, mobile NVR systems and solar backup. Officials said the service will function round the clock, with citizens able to seek help through calls, SMS, WhatsApp, web portals and the SOS-112 India app.

The mobile forensic vans, introduced under the theme “Science on Wheels – Towards Faster Justice”, are designed to carry out on-the-spot scientific investigation. Equipped with tools for evidence collection, fingerprint detection, narcotics testing, digital forensics and ballistic analysis, the vans are expected to speed up investigations and improve the quality of evidence.

Shah later reached Jagdalpur and travelled to Netanar village, where he inaugurated the ‘Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera’, a public service centre set up at a CRPF camp. The facility provides access to Aadhaar services, banking, certificates and government schemes.

Addressing a gathering, Shah said Bastar had entered a new phase. He said areas once marked by violence and lack of basic services were now seeing development on the ground. He added that several security camps would be converted into similar service centres in the coming months, with plans to expand such facilities across the region.

He said schemes under “Niyad Nella Nar” were helping extend ration services, identity documents, drinking water and healthcare to villages. He also referred to Ayushman Bharat benefits reaching residents and efforts to connect people to the mainstream through rehabilitation.

During the visit, Shah paid tribute at Amar Vatika in Jagdalpur to security personnel who lost their lives in anti Maoist operations. He met families of jawans killed in the Bijapur attack, including Kalendra Prasad Nayak and Pawan Kumar Mandavi, and assured them of full support. He also interacted with security personnel and praised their role in restoring peace in the region.

At an imli processing centre run by a self help group, Shah interacted with women and reviewed their work. Members said the initiative was helping them earn up to ₹1 lakh annually. He also visited a service centre where villagers shared how access to Aadhaar and other services within the village had reduced the need to travel long distances. Training centres for tailoring and traditional rice processing were also inaugurated, aimed at creating local employment opportunities.

On May 19, Shah will chair the 26th Central Zonal Council meeting in Jagdalpur. Chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to attend the meeting. The meeting will focus on inter state coordination, internal security, development in affected areas and administrative reforms.