India, April 2 -- Commandos of Chhattisgarh's specialised anti-Maoist District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters will be deployed at police stations across the seven districts of the Bastar region, marking a shift from counter-insurgency roles to regular policing, people aware of the matter said. Around 4,000 personnel will be part of this transition, they added.

The move comes amid a significant decline in Left-wing extremism in the region, with Union home minister Amit Shah telling Parliament on Monday that India is now Maoist-free. Shah's statement came a day before the government's deadline of March 31, 2026, to eradicate Left-wing extremism. Shah said 4,839 Maoists surrendered, 706 were killed, and 2,218 were arrested and jail...