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. Image Source: IANS
In 2015, a "National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE" was approved in order to tackle the issue of LWE holistically
On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah restated his claim that the nation would be free of naxalism by the end of March 2026. Speaking at the Bastar Olympics 2024 closing ceremony in Jagdalpur, the Bastar headquarters in Chhattisgarh, the first-ever sporting event held in the Naxal-infested area, Mr. Shah stated that the state and central governments were dedicated to eliminating the Maoist threat in the nation by March 2026. He explained how the Bastar Olympics 2024, a sporting event that attracted a sizable number of tribal women, children, youth, elderly people, and even Maoists who had surrendered, marked the start of the region's normalization process.
According to Mr. Shah, the counterinsurgency efforts implemented in Bastar over the past year have severely damaged the region's Left-wing extremism. In Bastar, in the past year, 833 extremists have given up, 992 Naxals have been captured, and 287 Maoists have been slain. According to him, Maoists now have two choices: either surrender or face harsh treatment from security forces.
According to the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, state governments are in charge of matters pertaining to public order and police. Nonetheless, states impacted by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have been receiving additional support from the Government of India (GoI). In 2015, a "National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE" was approved in order to tackle the issue of LWE holistically. It envisions a multi-year plan that includes development interventions, security-related measures, local communities' rights and entitlements, etc.
The Government of India (GoI) supports the LWE affected States on the security front by giving them Central Armed Police battalions, training, and funding for modernizing State police forces, equipment, and weapons, sharing intelligence, building fortified police stations, and other things. On the development side, in addition to flagship programs, the GoI has taken a number of specific initiatives in LWE affected States, with a focus on building out the road network, enhancing telecommunication connectivity, skilling, and financial inclusion. Over the past five years, from 2019–20 to 2023–24, Rs 4350.78 crore has been made available for the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), Security Related Expenditure (SRE), and Special Central Assistance (SCA) programs to help the LWE-affected states increase their capacity.
The LWE picture has much improved in terms of decreased violence and limited geographic spread as a result of the Policy's uncompromising implementation. Compared to 2010, there were 73% fewer violent events due to LWE in 2023. Additionally, there were 138 resulting deaths (security forces plus civilians) in 2023 as opposed to 1005 in 2010, an 86% decrease. The number of districts affected by LWE has decreased from 126 to 90 in April 2018, to 70 in July 2021, and then to 38 in April 2024 as a result of the better LWE scenario.
Source: Press Information Bureau
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.
Source: Press Information Bureau
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 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.
Source: Press Information Bureau
The districts reporting LWE related violence incidents reduced from 96 in 2010 to 45 in 2022 and 38 in 2024. 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.
From a peak of 465 Police Stations of 96 districts in 2010 to just 191 Police Stations of 46 districts reporting LWE-related violence in 2021, the geographic distribution of violence has dramatically decreased over time. Seventy-three police stations from 333 districts reported LWE violence in 2014. The fewer districts included in the SRE Scheme is another indication of the decline in geographical dispersion. From 126 to 90 SRE districts in April 2018 and then to 70 in July 2021, the number of SRE districts decreased. In a similar vein, the number of districts that account for over 90 percent of LWE violence—dubbed the Most LWE Affected Districts—dropped from 35 in 2018 to 25 in 2021.