NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that Left-wing extremism-related incidents were down 47% between 2015 and 2020 as compared to incidents in the preceding six years from 2009 to 2014, and that the geographic spread or arc of Naxal violence had been contained to 53 districts across 9 states in 2020 as compared to 76 districts across 10 states in 2013.
In a written reply to a question, minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy said the steadfast implementation of the multi-pronged strategy to counter LWE had resulted in consistent decline in violence and shrinkage in geographical spread.
“The incidents of LWE violence have reduced by 70% from all-time high of 2258 in 2009 to 665 in 2020. Similarly resultant deaths (civilians + security Forces) have reduced by 80% from all time high of 1005 in 2010 to 183 in 2020. The geographical spread has been constricted and only 53 districts across 9 States reported LWE related violence as compared to 76 districts across 10 States in 2013. However, 90 districts in 11 States are covered under Security Related Expenditure (SRE)/LWE Scheme for the purpose of reimbursement of expenditure incurred by the states on counter LWE operations,” he stated.