Chhattisgarh's government is preparing a major security overhaul in Bastar after officially declaring the region free of Naxalism on March 31. Central Armed Police Force personnel who have been stationed in Bastar's interior areas for years are now set to be withdrawn in a phased, listed manner, though the state government insists this will not create any security gap.
Over 50 new police stations, 5800 recruitments
Under the plan, local police deployment will first be strengthened in areas where new police stations come up, and only after that will the withdrawal of central forces from those areas begin. In the first stage, a proposal to open more than 50 new police stations across 7 districts of Bastar has already been prepared and sent to the state government. To staff these new stations, nearly 5800 new personnel will be recruited.
Why local youth get first priority
The standout feature of this recruitment drive is that Bastar's local youth will be given first priority. The government's reasoning is that local youth understand the region's language, culture and ground realities far better, which will strengthen law and order and boost people's trust in the police. The entire process will be rolled out in phases so that the security setup is not affected at any stage. The government also wants Bastar's residents to get employment opportunities alongside security, helping them join the mainstream.
How many central force personnel are deployed right now
At present, more than 62,000 central security force personnel are deployed across Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected areas. These include CRPF, ITBP, BSF, and SSB personnel guarding railway tracks. According to available information, more than 8,000 ITBP personnel and more than 4,000 BSF personnel are posted in different areas of the state, while CRPF has the largest number of personnel among them.
Centre preparing to send forces to Manipur
Behind this entire exercise lies another major reason. The central government is preparing to deploy some of these central force personnel to other states, particularly Manipur, which is why the plan to withdraw them from Chhattisgarh has been drawn up. The government maintains that despite the withdrawal of central forces, Bastar's security setup will remain fully robust. Through the establishment of new police stations, recruitment of local youth and strengthening of the police force, efforts will continue to boost peace, development and public trust in the region.
