Commandos of Chhattisgarh's anti-Maoist forces, the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, will be deployed at police stations across the Bastar region for regular policing. Around 4,000 personnel will be part of this transition, marking a shift from counter-insurgency roles.
The move comes amid a significant decline in Left-wing extremism in the region, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah stating that India is now Maoist-free. The government has reported a decline in Maoist activities, with 4,839 Maoists surrendering, 706 killed, and 2,218 arrested and jailed in the last three years.
The DRG and Bastar Fighters will be integrated into routine policing work after some training, covering investigation of routine crimes, traffic management, forensic procedures, and maintenance of law and order. Women commandos will receive specialised training to deal with cases related to child and women trafficking and crime-solving skills.
The move aims to strengthen police presence at the grassroots level and improve outreach in remote tribal areas by utilising personnel familiar with the local language and geography.
