The Union Home Minister has announced noticeable progress in reducing Left Wing Extremism (LWE) violence, with a record decline witnessed for the first time in four decades. This significant development is attributed to a combination of rigorous strategies and development initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Strategy for Reducing LWE-Related Violence
The MHA’s policy to counteract LWE involves a three-pronged strategy, focusing on a forceful approach to curb extremist violence, enhancing coordination between Centre and states, and mitigating support for LWE groups through public participation in development. These groups, which seek transformative changes through violent revolution, essentially contravene democratic institutions and processes.
Development Initiatives to Counter LWE
Aligning with the aim to foster comprehensive development in LWE-affected areas, a series of infrastructural projects have been executed in the past eight years. They include the construction of 11,811 km of roads, installation of 2,343 mobile towers, and establishment of 245 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, out of which 121 are operational, in 90 districts impacted by LWE.
In another critical development, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has finalized three potential landing sites for its upcoming lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3.
The Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Mission
Expected to be launched in 2023, Chandrayaan-3’s primary landing site will be located between the Manzius U and Boguslawsky M craters on the moon. ISRO’s lunar exploration program, also known as Chandrayaan, is keenly focused on investigating the moon’s southern polar region due to the potential presence of water ice. Chandrayaan-3, to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, follows the partially successful Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-1 which was launched in 2008.
India’s Request for Armed Predator Drones from the US
The Indian armed forces have sought 18 armed Predator MQ 9A drones from the United States as part of their surveillance and defense strategy. These high-tech drones are capable of flying up to 50,000 feet for a maximum duration of 24 hours. They can be equipped with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles for high-value targets or air-to-air missiles to neutralize aerial threats.
Distribution and Significance of Predator Drones
Out of the total 18 drones requested, each of the three services – Army, Navy, and Air Force – will receive six drones each. This acquisition holds strategic importance for India, especially in light of China and Pakistan possessing Wing Loong II armed drones in their arsenals.
Prison Reforms in India
In an initiative to transform the country’s prison system, Rajasthan has adopted an open prison model that focuses on reformative punishments. This progressive system enables convicts, who have served one-third of their sentences, to live on community land with family members, without being unreasonably constrained by high walls or stringent surveillance.
In addition, Tihar jail – South Asia’s largest prison complex – is to install AI-powered CCTV cameras to enhance inmate monitoring and tighten security. The facility is also upgrading its grievance redressal system and establishing an optical fibre network. These reforms come as crucial steps to address overcrowding and crime within the prison.