Anti-Naxal operations will continue even during rainy season: Amit Shah

 

 

 

Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Sunday said that anti-Naxal operations would continue even during the rainy season. He made this statement while virtually inaugurating the temporary campus of National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and I-Hub Chhattisgarh at MayFair Lake Resort in the new capital city of Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. Shah crediting the success of the intensified anti-Naxal operations under the leadership of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Home Minister Vijay Sharma said that these efforts are for restoring peace in the Bastar region.

 

“Every time during the rainy season, Maoists used to get rest, but this time, we will not let them sleep during monsoon, and we will move further to achieve the target of March 31, 2026, to eliminate Naxalism,” Shah asserted. The Union Home Minister appealed to Naxalites to lay down their arms, join the mainstream of society, and avail themselves of the “lucrative” surrender policy. “Lay down arms and join the journey of development. There is no need for talks with Maoists. Just give up armed struggle and join the mainstream of the society,” he reiterated. Shah extended a wholehearted welcome to those who have surrendered, assuring them that all promises made by the Chhattisgarh and Central governments would be fulfilled, with additional support offered. Shah further emphasized that since the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Chhattisgarh, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 5 lakh crore in investment proposals have been signed.

 

This, he noted, is expected to boost employment, state revenue, and foster an industrial culture. Describing the day as historic for Chhattisgarh’s criminal justice system, Shah announced the initiation of the groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent campus of NFSU and the foundation of a Central Forensic Science Laboratory, alongside the temporary campus inauguration. These institutions are being developed at a total cost of 268 crore. Academic sessions at the temporary campus are set to commence from the 2025–26 academic year, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Forensic Science, Cyber Security, Psychology, Digital Forensics, and various professional diploma courses, with approximately 180 students expected in the first batch. Shah stated that these institutions would not only benefit Chhattisgarh but also empower the entire central Indian region with a modern legal and investigative framework. Advanced forensic technologies such as DNA fingerprinting, LSD analysis, cyber security, biotechnology, and digital forensics will now be accessible locally, expediting and enhancing the accuracy of investigations.

 

He added that dependence on Delhi or other metropolitan cities for forensic examinations would no longer be necessary, as all such investigations would now be conducted at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. Regarding I-Hub Chhattisgarh, Shah stated that it would serve as a vital support system for youth by promoting a startup culture, providing technical support, facilitating funding, and offering professional services like marketing and contract management. He urged the youth to become entrepreneurs, launch startups, and actively participate in the state’s industrial progress, predicting that this I-Hub, modeled after a successful Gujarat initiative, would give rise to several global startups from Raipur. The Union Home Minister informed that the permanent NFSU campus would be fully developed within three years, creating immense career opportunities in the forensic sciences sector. He assured that an NFSU degree under the Modi government would guarantee employment. Referring to the newly enacted criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam), Shah said their objective is to ensure justice within three years and establish a modern, evidence-based criminal justice system.

 

He highlighted that forensic investigation has been made mandatory for crimes attracting imprisonment of over seven years. All police stations are now integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), enabling state governments to enhance their investigative and supervisory capacities through technology, which will reinforce the judicial process and position India among leading nations in science-based convictions. Shah further revealed that 16 NFSU campuses have already been established across the country, with 10 more in the pipeline, emphasizing the pivotal role of forensic technology in achieving the vision of a self-reliant India. Citing a recent survey, he projected that the global forensic technology market would reach USD 55 billion by 2026, with India’s share rapidly increasing. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear vision to make India a developed country by 2047. Sai described the day as historic for the state, marking the foundation of three key institutions that will bring national and international recognition.

 

He underlined that NFSU is the world’s first and only university dedicated entirely to the study of forensic science, cyber security, and behavioral sciences. The Raipur campus, he said, will establish Nava Raipur as an emerging national educational hub and serve as a strong foundation for law enforcement, judicial procedures, and forensic research across Central India. Sai also shared that the Chhattisgarh government allocated 40 acres of land at Banjari, Nava Raipur, for the university and played a vital role in the timely development of the transit campus. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma added that the Raipur campus of NFSU would not only serve as a training center but also usher in revolutionary changes in forensic research and investigation, becoming a hub for academic learning, research, training, and consultancy. The programme was attended by Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, Deputy CM Arun Sao, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Campus Director of NFSU Gandhinagar Professor Dr. S. O. Junare, Raipur MP Brijmohan Agrawal, lawyers, senior officials, and others.