Civilians suffer most in naxal operation: MHA

According to the statistics issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, as many as 68 civilians and 34 security personnel were killed in violence related to LWE whereas, 54 extremists have also been killed between January to August this year.

New Delhi: The statistics of Union Home Ministry (MHA) on Monday revealed that civilians get affected the most in Left Wing Extremists (LWE) related violence across the country.

In fact, the casualties have seen a sharp rise in the last eight months. As many as 68 civilians and 34 security personnel were killed in violence related to LWE whereas, 54 extremists have also been killed between January to August this year. Reportedly, 241 extremists have also surrendered during the same period.

895 civilians have lost their lives in LWE related violence in different states from 2015-2019. Similarly, 817 extremists were killed during various encounters and 318 security force personnel lost their lives during the same period.

Statistics further explained that deaths of civilians and security personnel due to the LWE related violence has witnessed a steady decline in the last three years. 202 security force personnel and civilians have lost their lives in 2019, in comparison to the death of 240 in 2018 and 263 in 2017.

As many as 90 districts in 11 states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala are the worst affected due to the LWE related violence.

However, to strengthen its fight against Maoists, the central government has brought all the districts under security-related expenditure scheme of the Home Ministry.

Statistics show that the government has also increased the security-related expenditure scheme, special infrastructure scheme and special central assistance scheme to the states in their fight against Maoists. Accordingly, Rs 1,443.17 crore was sanctioned in 2019-20 in comparison to Rs 1,200 crore in 2018-19 to 11 states. In addition, the Home Ministry also provided Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) battalions, helicopters, UAVs to the state government as per their requirements.