Friday, 17 May, 2024
The number of districts generating almost 90% of LWE violence, classified as the most LWE-affected districts, decreased from 35 in 2018 to 30 in 2021. Image Source: IANS
On the development front, apart from flagship schemes the Government of India (GoI) has taken several specific initiatives in LWE affected States, with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving Telecom connectivity, skill development and financial inclusion
India’s former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had termed Left Wing Extremism as the biggest threat to India’s internal security and had highlighted the importance and need of eradicating it from the society. In recent years, the government has been taking many steps in order to eradicate this evil. Violence associated with left-wing extremism (LWE) has decreased by 77% from an all-time high of 2258 events in 2009 to 509 incidents in 2021. Similarly, resultant deaths (Civilians + Security Forces) have declined by 85% from an all-time high of 1005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021. The number of LWE violence episodes and related deaths has decreased by 24% and 27% in the past two years, respectively. The geographical spread of LWE violence has also been constricted and the districts reporting violence also reduced from 96 (2010) to 45 (2022).
Lowest number (98) of deaths due to the LWE violence was reported in 2022. The number of districts generating almost 90% of LWE violence, classified as the most LWE-affected districts, decreased from 35 in 2018 to 30 in 2021. As a result of zero tolerance policy, the lowest level of violence and deaths has been recorded in 2022 in last 4 decades.
In the year 2022, security forces have achieved unprecedented success in Operation Octopus, Operation Double Bull, and Operation Chakrabandha in the fight against Left Wing Extremists. 7 Maoists were killed and 436 arrested/surrendered in Chhattisgarh/ 4 Maoists killed in Jharkhand and 120 arrested/surrendered. 36 Maoist arrested/surrendered in Bihar. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, 3 Maoists have been killed by security forces.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai highlighted the development works and implementation of various government schemes in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts. He mentioned that in order to address the LWE menace holistically, a National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc. In order to improve telecom connectivity, 2,343 mobile towers are installed in phase-I of the Mobile Tower Project, which are being upgraded to 4G. Under phase-II of the Mobile Tower Project 2,542 Mobile Towers are under installation.
The vacuum areas have been shrinking and since 2019, around 195 new camps of the CAPFs have been established and 44 new camps will be established. The ex-gratia amount for the victims of LWE has been increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh in the year 2017 and now it has been further increased to Rs 40 lakh. The Central Government has launched more than 14,000 projects under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme to accelerate development in the districts most affected by Left Wing Extremism.
On the development front, apart from flagship schemes the Government of India (GoI) has taken several specific initiatives in LWE affected States, with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving Telecom connectivity, skill development and financial inclusion. Around 13,324 km of roads have been constructed in the LWE affected areas. 2,324 mobile towers have been installed in phase I of the mobile tower project. Under phase II, 2,542 mobile towers are under installation. Since April 2015, 927 bank branches, 944 ATMs and 27,513 banking correspondents have been made available in the 30 most LWE affected districts. Around 4,903 new post offices have been opened in 90 districts during the last 8 years. In order to ensure skill development, 43 ITIs and 38 skill development centers have been made functional in LWE affected districts.
The charts below show the number of fatalities due to naxal violence from 2000-2022.
Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal
The highest number (481) of incidents of killing were reported in 2010 as it was one of the worst years affected by the naxal insurgency. Seventy Six CRPF policemen were killed in a naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada in 2010. This is one of the deadliest attacks carried out by the naxalites in the 21st century. The year 2010 also registered the highest number of civilian casualties as 630 lost their lives due to naxal violence. The highest number of security forces were killed in 2009 as 319 security personnel lost their lives. Highest numbers of naxals (343) were killed in 2006.
One of the most effective and significant schemes implemented by the government to curb LWE is the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. This Scheme is being implemented as a sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme ‘Modernization of Police Forces’. Under the scheme, funds are provided to LWE affected states for capacity building of the States through provisions of ex-gratia to the family of civilian/security forces killed in LWE violence, training and operational needs of security forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, community policing, and compensation to security force personnel/civilians for property damage by left wing extremists, etc. Under the scheme, funds are not released district-wise but state-wise. Sum of Rs.1485 crore has been released to the LWE affected states in the last 05 years.
Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal
From 2012-2022, the highest incidents of killing were reported in the year 2016 as 263 such incidents were reported. Maximum number of civilians (164) lost their lives in 2013 and also the highest number of security personnel were killed in the same year as the number of deaths was reported at 103. The year 2016 reported the highest number (231) of naxal fatalities.
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs
The districts reporting LWE related violence incidents reduced from 96 in 2010 to 45 in 2022. The number of Police Stations reporting LWE related violence incidents also reduced from 465 in 2010 to 176 in 2022. It should be noted that though the naxal violence has decreased in the past few years, there are some strongholds where naxals continue to dominate. They have also been regularly indulging in violence against security forces. Last year, Sukma – a naxal stronghold saw one of the worst terror attacks claiming the lives of 22 security personnel. The death toll was the worst for Indian security forces fighting the Naxalites since 2017 when 25 policemen were killed at the same location.
