Naxal Violence Across States, Terror Acts In J&K On ‘Consistent’ Decline In Recent Years, Says MHA

There has been a ”consistent decline in LWE violence” and naxalism in the country, said the Ministry of Home Affairs in response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha regarding the same on Wednesday (20 July).

Answering a question by Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the incidents of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have reduced by 77 per cent from all time high of 2,258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021.

The resultant deaths of civilians and security forces too have come down by 85 per cent from ‘all time high of 1,005 in 2010 to 147 in 2021’.

The geographical spread of the violence has also reduced as ’only 46 districts reported LWE related violence in 2021 as compared to 96 districts in 2010’.

As per the reply, the decline in geographical spread is also reflected in the number of districts covered under the Security Related Expenditure Scheme which has come down from 126 to 90 in April 2018 and down to 70 in July 2021. The number of districts that contribute approximately 90 per cent of the LWE violence is also said to have come down from 35 to 30 in 2018 and 25 in 2021.

The Ministry also listed the various efforts being made in these regions including infrastructure, skill development and financial inclusion of local populace.

To another question by M Shanmugam that sought to know ‘whether it is a fact that incidents of terror attacks are rising, inspite of direct rule by central government in Kashmir’, Rai responded in the negative.

The response stated that the incidents of terrorist attacks have decreased significantly since 2018 in Jammu and Kashmir.

While the number stood at 417 in 2018, 255 in 2019, 244 in 2020 it came down to 229 in 2021. The number of security forces who died due to terrorist attacks in the last four years too has seen a steady decline, said the response. From 91 in 2018, 80 in 2019, to 62 in 2020 and 42 in 2021, the change has been drastic.

The response reiterated that the government has a zero tolerance policy against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Government has taken various measures to normalise the situation in the Kashmir valley. These include a robust security and intelligence grid, proactive operations against terrorists, intensified night patrolling and checking at Nakas, security arrangements through appropriate deployment and high level of alertness maintained by the security forces,” read the response.

It added that the government has taken several steps for all round development of Jammu and Kashmir including Implementation of PMDP, 2015, Flagship programmes, establishment of IIT and IIM, two new AlIMS and fast tracking of infrastructure projects in roads, power, etc.

Besides, a new central scheme is being implemented for industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crores which would provide employment to 4.5 lakh persons, said the response.

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