During a meeting held on October 6, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed his commitment to the complete eradication of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from the nation within a span of two years. Shah chaired this meeting to assess the security situation prevailing in states affected by LWE, highlighting significant progress in addressing this issue.
Shah underscored that the year 2022 marked a noteworthy achievement, witnessing the lowest number of violent incidents and fatalities in Naxal-affected regions over the past four decades. He emphasized the imperative of eliminating Naxalism, considering it a detriment to humanity, and expressed an unwavering resolve to eradicate it in all its manifestations.
According to officials, there has been a remarkable 77% reduction in violent incidents in Naxal-affected states in 2022 when compared to the peak levels observed in 2010.
The review meeting saw the participation of chief ministers from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the session, while Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh were represented by their respective state ministers.
Over the past five years, the LWE security situation in the country has demonstrated significant improvement. In 2015, the central government approved the 'National Policy and Action Plan to Address LWE.' This comprehensive policy entails a multifaceted approach that encompasses security-related measures, developmental initiatives, safeguarding the rights and entitlements of local communities, among other aspects.
The unwavering implementation of this policy has led to a consistent reduction in LWE-related violence across the nation. Furthermore, data compiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals a remarkable 90% reduction in the number of security forces and civilian casualties in LWE-related violence in 2022, in comparison to the peak levels observed in 2010.
From 2004 to 2014, there were a total of 17,679 LWE-related incidents and 6,984 casualties. In contrast, the period spanning from 2014 to 2023 (up to June 15, 2023) reported 7,649 LWE-related incidents and 2,020 casualties, highlighting the substantial progress made in addressing this issue.
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