Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent Diwali with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Sunday, continuing his tradition of celebrating the festival with India's armed forces.

Modi visited the CoBRA operations base in Karanpur, which has served as a launchpad for anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar division. He paid tribute to fallen Central Reserve Police Force personnel at the camp memorial, shared sweets with the troops and joined them as security forces danced to traditional tribal songs.

Addressing the personnel, Modi said Diwali 2026 was particularly significant because, in his words, every district in the country was now free from Naxalism. He described it as the first Diwali since India had won its decades-long battle against Naxalism and Maoist terror, and said crores of people had overcome the fear associated with the insurgency.

The prime minister credited the security forces for their courage and sacrifices, saying he had come to Bastar on behalf of 140 crore Indians to thank them for their service. He also warned that the threat had not disappeared entirely, saying that while armed Maoists had been pushed out of several areas, those he described as "dimagi Naxals", or ideological Naxals, remained a concern.

The visit marked Modi's 13th consecutive Diwali with security personnel since he became prime minister in 2014. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said no jawan had been martyred in the past year and described the visit as a message that Bastar was now free from terror.