The number of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) related violent incidents had come down by 76% in 2022 in comparison to 2010. The number of resultant deaths (security forces + civilians) had also reduced by 90% in that period, parliament was informed on Tuesday.

The geographical spread of violence has also significantly reduced and only 176 police stations of 45 districts reported LWE related violence in 2022 as compared to 465 police stations of 96 districts in 2010, as stated by the minister of state for home affairs, Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Decline in geographical spread is also reflected in the fact that of the total 45 districts reporting LWE violence in 2022, only 10 districts reported 72% of the total violence. Similarly, of the 176 PSs reporting by LWE violence, 30 PSs reported 50% of the violence.

During the last five years, there has been a significant decline in the number of LWE related violence incidents across the nation which has come down by 36% in 2022 in comparison to 2018. The number of resultant deaths (Security Forces + Civilians) have also reduced by 59% during this period.

As per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, subjects of ‘Police and Public Order’ are with the state governments. However, to address the LWE menace holistically, the central government launched a National Policy and Action Plan in 2015. The policy envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, etc.