PM Modi Celebrates Diwali 2026 with CoBRA Commandos in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Key points
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali 2026 with security personnel at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on 8 November 2026.
During the visit, the Prime Minister interacted with security personnel, distributed sweets and acknowledged their contributions to counter-Naxal operations and national security.
He also highlighted the government's efforts to address Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) through security operations, infrastructure development and welfare initiatives in affected regions.
Key Highlights
Occasion: Diwali 2026
Date: 8 November 2026
Location: Karanpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Security Force: CoBRA, a specialised unit of the CRPF
Major Focus: Internal Security and Counter-Naxal Operations
Government Initiatives: Road connectivity, mobile towers, education, skill development and welfare programmes in LWE-affected regions
During his address, PM Modi stated that every district in India had become free from Naxalism. This was the Prime Minister's statement and should not be confused with an independently verified assessment of all insurgency-related activity.
What is CoBRA?
CoBRA stands for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action.
It is a specialised unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), established in 2008 to conduct operations against Left-Wing Extremism.
CoBRA commandos receive specialised training in:
Jungle warfare
Counter-insurgency operations
Intelligence-based operations
Counter-Naxal operations
Operations in difficult terrain
CoBRA personnel have played an important role in counter-insurgency operations in central India.
What is Left-Wing Extremism?
Left-Wing Extremism refers to armed insurgency associated with Maoist or Naxalite groups in India.
The Naxalite movement originated in Naxalbari, West Bengal, in 1967.
Several regions of central and eastern India, including parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra, have historically experienced LWE-related violence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs coordinates the Union Government's policy against Left-Wing Extremism.
Constitutional Provisions
Article 246: Defines the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and State governments.
Seventh Schedule: Police and Public Order are included in the State List.
Article 355: Places a duty on the Union to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance and ensure that state governments function according to the Constitution.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Diwali 2026 visit to the CoBRA Operations Base in Bastar highlighted the role of security personnel in countering Left-Wing Extremism and the importance of development initiatives in historically affected regions.
