The recent data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reported a consistent decrease in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) related violence and the geographical spread of LWE influence across India. The Maoist influence, specifically, has shrunk and now only extends to 41 districts nationwide, a significant drop from the 96 districts spread across 10 states in 2010. The count of LWE incidents have also taken a dip, plummeting from 2,258 cases in 2009, to a mere 349 incidents recorded up until August 2021.
Understanding Left Wing Extremism in India
Left-wing extremists, more commonly referred to as Maoists globally and as Naxalites within India, derived their name from the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal. This movement emerged in 1967 as a rebellion against local landlords who ill-treated a peasant over land disputes. Leadership was under Kanu Sanyal and Jagan Santhal, who aimed for the rightful redistribution of land to working peasants. The Naxalite influence expanded across less developed eastern regions of India, including states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Naxals are generally known to support Maoist political sentiment and ideology, which is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. Maoism proposes the capturing of state power through armed insurgency, mass mobilization, and strategic alliances. Areas influenced by LWE are often referred to as the Red Corridor.
Reasons Behind LWE in India
Several reasons contribute to the growth of LWE in India, key among them being tribal discontent. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been misused to target tribals relying on forest produce for livelihood. There has been a significant displacement of the tribal population due to development projects, mining operations among other reasons in the states affected by naxalism. These individuals, who are left without a source of livelihood, become easy targets for Maoists who provide them with arms, ammunition, and money. Also, gaps in the socio-economic fabric of the nation have contributed to the growth of naxalism, with measures being based on violence rather than development in these areas. Furthermore, an absence of strong technical intelligence to combat Naxalites and infrastructural deficiencies, such as lack of proper communication networks in some villages, exacerbates the problem.
Government Measures to Curb Naxal Activities
The Indian government has launched several initiatives to curb Naxal activities. One such initiative is the Aspirational Districts Programme introduced in 2018, aimed at the rapid transformation of districts that lag behind in key social areas. The SAMADHAN doctrine was introduced in 2017 as a comprehensive solution for the LWE problem, encompassing the government’s entire strategy from short-term to long-term policies formulated at various levels. The National Policy and Action Plan was launched in 2015, consisting of a multi-pronged approach comprising security measures, development initiatives, and ensuring rights & entitlements of local communities.
The MHA supports State Governments extensively through deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) battalions, provision of helicopters and UAVs, and sanction of India Reserve Battalions (IRBs)/ Special India Reserve Battalions (SIRBs). Funds are provided under the Modernization of Police Force (MPF), Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, and Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) aimed at modernizing and training State Police. Several development initiatives have been implemented to develop roads, mobile tower installations, skill development, improving network of banks and post offices, health, and education facilities. The Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme also provides development funds to the most LWE affected districts.
Law Enforcement Initiatives
The Greyhounds, an elite anti-naxal force, was established in 1989. Following this, Operation Green Hunt was initiated in 2009-10 with a massive deployment of security forces in Naxal-affected areas.
Way Forward
Though the number of LWE incidents has decreased in recent years, continuous efforts are needed to eliminate such groups. Innovative measures need to be implemented to prevent incidents involving Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which have led to significant casualties in recent years. Additionally, states should reevaluate their surrender policy to integrate innocent individuals trapped within the LWE network back into mainstream society.
