Left Wing Extremism (LWEs), earlier known as Naxalism, is armed rebellion by tribals against the rule of law based system of constitutional democratic governance in the countryconsidered as centuries of cumulative exploitations by the rulers in the form of gradual deprivation of the tribe’s inherent right to Jal (Water), Zameen (Land) and Jungle (Forests) for all round development of India. Deforestation for mining, industry and infrastructure is viewed by the LWEs as thecontinuing deprivation of their traditional habitats and livelihoods. Union Government in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in concert with the affected LWE States have been tackling the issues raised by the tribals to ensure peace and progress over the years. But their armed resistance has been continuing although, as claimed by the MHA, there has been perceptible improvement in the LWEs affected States.
According to the MHA, country has witnessed unprecedented improvement in the past five calendar years from 2017 to 2021. This follows a resolute implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan to combat LWEs, launched by Government of India in 2015. Number of civilians killed in LWE violence has declined by 48 per cent from 186 in 2017 to 97 in 2021. Data of number of persons jailed and released is not maintained at the level of central government. Law and Order being State Subjects, State governments have their own compensation policies for people killed in LWE violence. Government of India reimburses the States/Union Territories (UTs) with ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh to the family of civilian killed in the LWE violence under the Security Related Security Expenditure Scheme. Additionally, Government of India is also administering Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist/Communal/LWE Violence/Cross Firing and Mine/IED Blasts in Indian Territory (CSACV) under which a financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh is given for each death or permanent disability of 50 per cent and above to the family of civilian victims. Amount of Rs. 31,22,80,000 has been compensated to 1527 beneficiaries since the introduction of the Scheme in LWE affected States.
State wise civilians killed during 2017-2021 in Andhra Pradesh were six in 2017, three in 2018, five in 2019, four in 2020 and one in 2021, followed by Bihar 22 in 2017, 13 in 2018, 16 in 2019, 8 in 2020 and 7 in 2021, Chhattisgarh 17 in 2017, 98 in 2018, 55 in 2019, 75 in 2019, 75 in 2020 and 56 in 2021, Jharkhand 53 in 2017, 34 in 2018, 42 in 2019, 38 in 2020, and 21 in 2021, Madhya Pradesh one in 2017, nil in 2018, two in 2019, two in 2019, two in 2020 and three in 2021, Maharashtra 13 in 2017, 12 in 2018, 18 in 2019, five in 2020 and five in 2021, Odisha 21 in 2017, 11 in 2018, 10 in 2019, 70 in 2020 and three in 2021. In all, a total of civilians killed were 188 in 2017, 150 in 2018, 150 in 2019, 140 in 2020 and 97 in 2021. State wise total LWEs killed were 136 in 2017, 225 in 2018, 145 in 2019, 103 in 2020 and 97 in 2021. Total LWEs arrested were 1888 in 2017, 1933 in 2018, 1276 in 2019, 1110 in 2020 and 1154 in 2021.
Presently, 90 districts in 11 States are LWE affected and are covered under security related expenditure. LWEs have frequently targeted tribal, police and government workers in what they say is a fight for improved land rights and more jobs for neglected agricultural labourers and the poor LWE active zones, better known as the Red Corridor comprising the central, southern and eastern parts of the country in 11 States with the major concentration in Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. It is popularly known as Maoist insurgency. Out of the nine LWE hit States, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are worst hit, while Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are only partially affected. LWE is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances.
It would be premature to believe that it has waned altogether. It is like gorilla warfare mostly with hit and run like situation. Security forces have been victims apart from civilians of LWE violence. Nevertheless, Central and affected States’ combined resolute strategy to combat the menace of such insurgency with a large scale development in the insurgency hit areas have been helpful in the waning of LWE violence!