New Delhi, March 30 -- Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that the government had set the target of eliminating Naxalism by March 31 this year, and he can say with confidence that "we have become Naxal-free".

Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on efforts to free the country from Left Wing Extremism, Amit Shah slammed Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and alleged that the Congress leader has been seen on numerous occasions with Naxals and their sympathisers.

He gave details of action taken by security forces in tackling Naxalism and said 4,839 (Naxalites) have surrendered, 2,218 have been sent to jail, and 706 who refused to surrender and remained in hiding were gunned down by the police in encounters.

"We...