Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism from India by March 31, 2026, crediting the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) — particularly the elite CoBRA unit — as pivotal to this mission.
Addressing the 86th Raising Day celebrations of the CRPF in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, Shah said, “The Naxal menace will be eliminated from the country by March 31, 2026, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CRPF and CAPF, especially CoBRA, will play a decisive role in achieving this goal.”
Earlier in the day, Shah reviewed the ceremonial parade and paid homage to the fallen CRPF personnel.
Though CRPF Day is officially observed on March 19, commemorating the day in 1950 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel presented the force with its official flag, this year’s celebrations were extended, and the parade was held on April 17.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also attended the event.
The roots of the CRPF trace back to July 27, 1939, when it was originally formed as the Crown Representative Police under British rule. The force was renamed CRPF on December 28, 1949, under the stewardship of then Home Minister Sardar Patel.
Over the decades, the CRPF has been at the forefront of several national responsibilities including:
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Internal security
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Counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism operations
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Disaster response and peacekeeping
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VIP protection
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Support in state and national elections
As Shah reiterated the Centre’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and extremism, the message from Neemuch is clear: the countdown to a Naxalism-free India has officially begun.
