Source: Hindu

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Context

• The Union Home Minister has said, India will become free of LWE by March 2026.
• The approach would entail development initiatives, focused operations, and prosecution measures.

Details

What is Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)?

• The Left Wing Extremism in India refers to an extremist socio-political movement that is mainly driven by the Maoist ideologies.
• The movement involves the overthrow of the government through armed struggle and the establishment of a communist state.
• The Maoists, popularly known as Naxalites, generally target the rural and forested regions, where they mobilize the marginalized communities such as the tribals against the state institutions.

Historical Background

• It has its roots in the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal, led by Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal. The term "Naxalite" comes from this rebellion.
• The movement fractured after the passing of Charu Mazumdar in 1972, only for a new boost to happen with the formation of the People's War Group in Andhra Pradesh in 1980.
• A significant revival movement occurred in 2004 when the People's War merged with the Maoist Communist Centre to the Communist Party of India, Maoist.
• Over five decades old and continuing, the movement has resulted in around 15,000 deaths due to Naxal-related violence.

Present Status

• LWE's influence has significantly reduced in recent years, with the "Red Corridor" (areas of LWE influence) shrinking.
• There was a 53 per cent reduction in LWE-related incidents.
• 70 per cent reduction in the number of security personnel and civilians martyred.
• A decrease in the number of affected districts by LWE from 126 in 2013 to 38 in the year 2024.
• The year 2022 recorded the lowest number of violent incidents and deaths in Naxal-affected areas in the past four decades.
• The number of districts affected by LWE has dropped from 90 to 45, marking a substantial shrinkage in the influence of Naxalite groups across India.
• States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are reportedly free from Naxalism.
• Maharashtra has also gone on to make significant progress, with only 1 district remaining to be affected, that is Gadchiroli.
• in 2021, Chhattisgarh accounted for 90% of security personnel deaths. Despite a decline in overall incidents, occasional large-scale attacks, such as the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur border attack, highlight the continuing danger.
• Chhattisgarh's Efforts
• 46 new security force camps have been established in the state.
• A new surrender policy by the Chhattisgarh government will be brought out this month itself.

States Affected by LWE

Heavily Affected States:

• Chhattisgarh is the worst-affected state, especially in the Bastar region, which has continued to be a Naxalite stronghold.
• Jharkhand is the second most important theatre; however, the violence has decreased.

Moderately Affected States:

• Odisha, Bihar, Telangana, and Maharashtra have witnessed a decline in Left Wing Extremist incidents, but some hot and vulnerable

Low Impact States:

• In West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, several areas have been declared as No activity zones.

Causes of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India

Socioeconomic Factors

• Poverty and Economic Disparity: LWE-affected regions often have high poverty rates, with limitations in basic services such as health, education, and employment.
• Land and Forest Rights Issues: Development projects, like mining, that alienate tribal populations from their lands are a cause for great discontent. The Forest Rights Act has also been implemented poorly.
• Lack of Development: Most of the LWE-affected areas have a lack of infrastructure: roads, electricity, and schools are absent in many places. This has created in the local populace a feeling of being alienated.

Political Factors

• Poor Governance and Corruption: poor governance coupled with corruption leads to mismanagement of resources for development in LWE-affected areas. 
• Political Alienation: Political alienation caused by the inability of the political systems to assimilate properly tribal and marginalised communities into the democratic process. 
• State Repression: In some instances, the heavy-handed approach of security forces has exacerbated the situation.

Other Factors

• Historical Grievances: Decades of exploitation and marginalization of tribals and lower-caste communities at the hands of colonial and then post-colonial governments have created deep-seated grievances.
• Ideological Appeal: The promise of a "New Democratic Revolution" attracts individuals disillusioned with the status quo.
• External Support: The LWE groups have quite apparently received support from other insurgent organizations, both within India and abroad, that has helped them sustain their activities.

Steps Undertaken

Category	Measures/Steps Undertaken
Holistic Approach	National Policy and Action Plan (2015): MHA’s multi-pronged approach for security, development, rights, governance, and public perception management. Review and Monitoring: Includes intelligence sharing through Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and SMAC, and regular inter-state coordination meetings.
Security Measures	Deployment of CAPFs: CAPF battalions and Naga Battalions assist State Police in LWE areas.  India Reserve (IR)/Specialized IR Battalions: 45 IR battalions sanctioned for LWE-affected states.  Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: Funds for operational needs, rehabilitation, and community policing.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) Handling	SOP on Explosives/IEDs: SOP circulated to stakeholders for compliance in Naxal-affected areas.
Air Support	Enhanced Air Support: UAVs and helicopters provided to State Governments and CAPFs for anti-Naxal operations and evacuation.
Capacity Building	Modernization: Funds provided under Modernization of Police Force (MPF) and Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) for training and equipment of State Police.
Developmental Initiatives	Road Requirement Plan-I: 17,600 km of roads sanctioned.  Telecom Connectivity: Mobile towers installed in LWE-affected districts.  Financial Inclusion: Post Offices, Bank Branches, ATMs, and Banking Correspondents established.  Education: Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) opened.
Special Schemes	Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme: Over 10,000 projects undertaken in the most affected districts, with 80% completed.  Integrated Action Plan (IAP)/Additional Central Assistance (ACA): Public infrastructure and services in 60 tribal and backward districts.
Rights and Entitlements	Implementation of FRA (2006): Recognizes forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
Surrender and Rehabilitation	Rehabilitation Policy: Districts covered under SRE Scheme, with focused resource deployment in ‘Most Affected Districts’ and ‘Districts of Concern’ to restrict LWE expansion.
Special Forces and Operations	Greyhounds: Elite anti-Naxal force established in 1989.  Operation Green Hunt: Massive security force deployment started in 2009-10.
Special Initiatives and Programs	Aspirational Districts Programme (2018): Targets rapid transformation of underdeveloped districts.  SAMADHAN Doctrine: Comprehensive strategy with steps like Smart Leadership, Aggressive Strategy, and Harnessing Technology.  ROSHNI Initiative: Training and placement for rural poor youth.
Intelligence and Specialized Forces	Intelligence Sharing: Multi-agency intelligence sharing mechanisms in place. Special Battalions: Separate 66 Indian Reserved Battalion (IRBs) and specialized CRPF battalions like COBRA and Bastariya battalion raised to counter LWE.

Way Forward

• Improved Intelligence: Improved technical intelligence is critical for anticipating and preventing LWE attacks.
• Focus on Development: There needs to be a continuous focus on development, more in the infrastructure and basic services sectors, to win trust of local populations.
• Surrender and Rehabilitation: More effective rehabilitation programs for surrendered militants have the ability to reduce the strength of LWE groups.
• Community Engagement: Engaging local communities in governance and development processes can help to isolate extremists and remove their influence.

Sources:

Hindu 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q: The ongoing efforts to tackle LWE in India may impact regional security dynamics, including relations with neighboring countries. Critically Analyse. (250 Words)