NEW DELHI: Stating that peace had been established in the country’s three primary hotspots — Jammu and Kashmir, northeast region and areas affected by Left-wing extremism — home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the home ministry is now focused on the next big challenge, the drug menace, and aims to make the country completely narcotics-free by Dec 31, 2029.Addressing an event here to mark the Police Commemoration Day, Shah said 2026 has been an extremely significant year for the Indian police, as they successfully freed the country from the decades-old stranglehold of violent Naxalism by March 31. “From 1981 to March 2026, the country had endured numerous hardships due to Naxalism….more than 3,600 security personnel were martyred, and nearly 13,700 innocent civilians also lost their lives,” he recalled and said the sacrifices of 3,600 police personnel have laid the foundation of progress “as the country moves forward on the path of development”.The Police Commemoration Day event was attended by Members of Parliament Krishna Prasad Tenneti and Rajiv Kumar, home secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau director Mahesh Dixit and the Directors-General of various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).Stating that an environment conducive to development has emerged in Kashmir, northeast and LWE-hit regions, which now compete with the rest of the country in terms of development, Shah particularly thanked the CRPF and its CoBRA battalion as well as the Chhattisgarh police for their role in the decisive fight against LWE. Praising the police forces for always remaining on duty, irrespective of festivals or holidays, to strengthen internal security during elections, festivals, protests and also guarding the borders, Shah particularly appreciated the CAPFs for ensuring that the recent polls in West Bengal, given its long history of electoral violence, were uneventful with not a single fatality.Stating that several challenges remain, the home minister said the next top agenda for the home ministry is to dedicate the remaining part of 2026 and three years after that to freeing the country from the drug menace. Noting that drug abuse and trafficking undermine the future of coming generations, place an unnecessary burden on the economy and often provide financial support to organisations with anti-national intentions, Shah called upon police forces across the country to wholeheartedly join in implementing the ‘nasha-mukt Bharat’ roadmap.
Meanwhile, to spread the message regarding the govt’s time-bound war on drugs, the home minister flagged off a nationwide motorcycle rally on Wednesday with the theme ‘fight against drugs’. Five riders each from 36 states/Union territories and 9 CAPFs are participating in this rally and will reach Kevadia, Gujarat, from different parts of the country, to join the Ekta Diwas parade on Oct 31.Police Commemoration Day is observed each year on Oct 21, to honour the 10 CRPF personnel who had bravely resisted an attack by Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh on the same day in 1959. On Wednesday, Shah placed a wreath at the National Police Memorial to honour the service and sacrifice by 36,852 police personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice thus far.