Raipur to have police commissionerate system from November 1

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NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Raipur on November 1, 2025, to inaugurate the ‘Amrit Rajat Mahotsav 2025’ – commemorating 25 years of Chhattisgarh’s formation – the state government has intensified its mission to give Left-wing extremism a final push and is also preparing to bring in major police reforms like starting a police commissionerate system in the state capital. On September 4 and 5, Union home secretary Govind Mohan and Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka paid a visit to Chhattisgarh to review the progress of sustained, intelligence-based operations against Maoists with an eye on the March 31, 2026 deadline set by home minister Amit Shah to eliminate Left-wing extremism from the country. The discussions also focused on progress of development works in the areas freed from Maoists’ hold as well as the rehabilitation of surrendered Left-wing extremists and their kin.The intensified operations against Maoists under the Vishnu Deo Sai govt in Chhattisgarh have brought significant successes. Between the installation of his govt in Dec 2023 and August 20, 2025, 453 Maoists were killed and their bodies recovered, as against 219 Maoists eliminated in the five years of Congress govt from 2019 to 2023. In 34 major anti-Naxal operations over the past 21 months, several top CPI(Maoist) leaders including general secretary Basavaraju, Central committee members Chalapathi and Sudhakar, 14 state zonal committee members and 68 divisional committee members were eliminated. Around 1616 Maoists were arrested and 1666 surrendered in these 21 months, and a total 688 arms seized.The home secretary and DIB, during their latest visit to Chhattisgarh, are also said to have reviewed preparations for the prime minister’s November 1 visit to Chhattisgarh. With the police commissionerate system in Raipur set to be implemented from November 1, efforts are being made so that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi possibly visits Raipur on this date, he may himself inaugurate this police reform.The Chhattisgarh home department and police headquarters have begun working swiftly to draft the framework for introducing the commissionerate system in Raipur, which may see seven IPS officers handling law and order in the city as against the current system of two IPS officers – an Inspector General and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) – discharging this responsibility. “Several state models are being studied to prepare a unique and effective draft,” a senior officer told TOI on Sunday. The system will have the police commissioner at the top; followed by joint commissioner, additional commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner in the hierarchy.The police commissioner will get executive magistrate powers. Currently, for even small administrative matters—such as granting permission for protests, issuing bar licenses, or arms licenses—the police need approval from the district magistrate or collector. The vesting of these powers in the police commissioner will enable quicker decision-making and immediate action, while at the same time increasing the accountability of the police.