Left Wing Extremism | 27 Apr 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Recently, two different incidents of naxalites attack were reported from Chhattisgarh and Assam. 

• 29 Naxalites were killed in the Kanker area of Chattisgarh  in one of the largest operations by security forces in Chhattisgarh. 
• In another incident, three vehicles of the paramilitary Assam Rifles were ambushed in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district. 

What is Naxalism? 

• Origin:  
  • The term Naxalism derives its name from the village Naxalbari of West Bengal. 
  • It originated as rebellion against local landlords who bashed a peasant over a land dispute.  
  • The movement soon spread across Eastern India in less developed areas of states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. 
  • Left-wing extremists (LWE) are popularly known as Maoists worldwide and as Naxalites in India. 
• Objective:  
  • They advocate for the overthrow of the Indian government through armed revolution and the establishment of a communist state based on Maoist principles.  
  • They view the state as oppressive, exploitative, and serving the interests of the ruling elite, and seek to address socio-economic grievances through armed struggle and people's war. 
• Modus Operandi:  
  • Naxalite groups engage in a range of activities, including guerrilla warfare, attacks on security forces, extortion, intimidation, and propaganda.  
  • They try to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilisation and strategic alliances. 
  • They target government institutions, infrastructure, and economic interests, as well as perceived collaborators and informants.  
  • Naxalites also operate parallel governance structures in certain areas under their control, providing basic services and dispensing justice. 
• Status of LWE in India:  
  • The year 2022 witnessed the lowest number of incidents of violence and deaths in Naxal-hit areas in the last four decades. 
  • Violent incidents in Naxalism-affected States have come down by 77% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010.  
    • The number of districts affected dropped from 90 to 45. 
  • The number of deaths of security forces and civilians in LWE violence has also reduced by 90% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010 (98 in 2022 from 1005 in 2010). 
• States Affected by LWE:  
  • The States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala are considered LWE affected. 
  • The Red Corridor is the region in the central, eastern and southern parts of India that experience severe Naxalism–Maoist insurgency. 

What are the Causes for Naxalism? 

• Socio-Economic Factors: 
  • Poverty and Lack of Development: Naxalism thrives in underdeveloped regions with high poverty rates.  
    • Adivasi (indigenous) and Dalit (lower caste) communities often face social exclusion and lack access to basic necessities like healthcare and education. 
    • This fuels resentment and makes them receptive to Naxalite ideology. 
  • Land Rights Disputes:  
    • Adivasis have been displaced from their traditional lands due to mining and development projects, creating anger and a sense of injustice.  
    • Naxalites exploit these disputes to project themselves as champions of the marginalised. 
  • Exploitation by Powerful Entities:  
    • Tribal communities are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by landlords, moneylenders, and mining companies.  
    • Naxalites position themselves as protectors against such exploitation. 
  • Caste Discrimination: Dalits, who face social and economic marginalisation, may find Naxalism appealing as it challenges the existing caste hierarchy. 
• Political Factors: 
  • Weak Governance and Lack of Infrastructure: Naxalism flourishes in areas with a weak government presence.  
    • Poor infrastructure like roads and communication networks allows Naxalites to operate with less interference. 
    • No Follow-Up from Administration: It is seen that even after police take hold of a region, administration fails to provide essential services to the people of that region. 
    • Lack of Coordination between Centre and State Government: State governments consider naxalism as the central government’s issue and thus are not taking any initiatives to fight it. 
  • Disillusionment with Democracy: Naxalites feel that the democratic system has failed to address their needs and grievances.  
    • Naxalites offer an alternative, albeit violent, path to change. 
• Additional factors: 
  • Globalization: Discontent with the impact of globalisation, particularly displacement due to land acquisition for corporations, can contribute to Naxalite support. 
  • Confusion over tackling naxalism as a social issue or as a security threat. 
  • Wide Geographic Spread: LWE groups operate in remote and inaccessible areas; dense forests, hilly terrains, and where there is lack of proper infrastructure making it challenging for security forces to track them down. 

What are Initiative of Government Against Naxalism? 

• National Policy and Action Plan to address Left Wing Extremism 2015 
• SAMADHAN 
• Aspirational Districts Programme 
• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: Scheme implemented in 10 LWE affected States for Security Related Expenditure. 
  • It relates to training and operational needs of security forces, ex-gratia payment to the family of civilians/security forces killed/injured in LWE violence, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadres, community policing, village defence committees and publicity materials.  
• Special Central Assistance (SCA) for most LWE Affected Districts: It aims to fill the critical gaps in Public Infrastructure and Services, which are of emergent nature. 
• Scheme of Fortified Police stations: Under the scheme, 604 fortified police stations have been constructed in LWE affected areas. 
• Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWE): It aims at improving road connectivity in LWE affected States. 

Way Forward 

• Targeted Security Operations: The security forces need to conduct targeted operations against LWE groups, using intelligence-based approaches and avoiding collateral damage. 
• Rehabilitation and Reintegration: The government needs to provide rehabilitation and reintegration support to former extremists who have renounced violence by providing them with education, training, employment as well as psychosocial support. 
  • States should rationalise their surrender policy in order to bring innocent individuals caught in the trap of LWE into the mainstream. 
• Empowering Local Peace Ambassadors: Identify and empower influential individuals within communities who are committed to promoting peace and countering extremist narratives. 
  • There is a need to foster open channels of communication between the government, security forces, and affected communities. 
  • Also, there is a need to encourage community leaders, NGOs, and religious institutions to play a role in mediating conflicts and addressing local issues. 
• Socio-Economic Development: The government needs to focus on improving socio-economic conditions in areas affected by left wing extremism such as investing in infrastructure, creating employment opportunities, and providing better access to education and healthcare. 
• Ecological and Sustainable Development Initiatives: Introduce projects that focus on sustainable development and conservation of natural resources in areas affected by extremism. 
  • By involving local communities in environmental protection efforts, a sense of ownership and responsibility can be fostered, leading to reduced extremism.