Raipur, Jan. 26 -- A long-awaited celebration of democracy unfolded today in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, which for decades remained in the grip of Left-wing extremism. In a historic moment, 47 villages across the districts of Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma--where national festivals could never be celebrated earlier--observed Republic Day for the first time on January 26. The occasion marks a significant milestone in the democratic restoration of Bastar.

Over the past two years, the security situation in the region has improved considerably due to a coordinated strategy by the Central and State governments, sustained operations by security forces, and growing cooperation from local communities. As part of these efforts, 59 new security c...