Parliament Question: Development in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas of Bihar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *402 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1ST APRIL, 2026/ CHAITRA 11, 1948 (SAKA) DEVELOPMENT IN LEFT WING EXTREMISM (LWE) AFFECTED AREAS OF BIHAR *402 #SHRI SHAMBHU SHARAN PATEL: Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the details of security measures and inter-agency coordination mechanisms adopted to strengthen counter-insurgency operations in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas; (b) the details of the progress achieved so far under the rehabilitation and surrender policies for persons associated with extremist organizations; (c) the details of developmental measures taken to improve connectivity, public services and livelihood opportunities in the LWE affected districts; (d) whether any measurable reduction has been noticed in LWE related incidents, casualties and operational areas in the recent period; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.-2- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 402* FOR 01.04.2026. As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE menace holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE” was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc. • On the security front, GoI also provides helicopter support, strengthening of camp infrastructure, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations and sanctioning of India Reserve Battalions etc. - For capacity building of states since 2014-15, Rs.3756.38 crore have been released to LWE affected states on operational expenditure and training needs of Security Forces, rehabilitation of surrendered LWE cadre, ex-gratia to families of civilians killed in LWE violence/martyred security force personnel etc. under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, out of which Rs.-3- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 175.25 crore have been released to Bihar. Works of Rs. 1761 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening of State’s Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS) under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), out of which Rs 173.6 crore have been released to Bihar. - GoI and State Governments have formulated comprehensive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policies. The GoI also supports the States in the endeavor through ‘Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation’ Policy as part of Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. The GoI reimburses the expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States on rehabilitation of surrenders under the SRE Scheme. The rehabilitation package inter-alia, includes an immediate grant of Rs. 5 lakhs for higher ranked LWE cadres and Rs 2.5 lakhs for other LWE cadres. In addition, incentives for surrender of weapons/ammunition are also provided under the Scheme. In addition, provision also exists for imparting training in trade/vocation of their liking with monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000/- for three years. The affected States have further revised their Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies to make them lucrative and contemporary.-4- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 - The efforts of the States for equipping and modernizing their police forces have been supplemented under the scheme of “Modernization of Police Forces”. Under the scheme, central assistance is provided to the State Governments for weapons, equipment for information technology, communication, training, construction of Police Stations, mobility and construction of police housing and other police infrastructure etc. Under its sub scheme i.e. Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), works of Rs. 1761 crore have been sanctioned to LWE affected states for strengthening of State’s Special Forces, State Intelligence Branches (SIBs), District Police and construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS). So far 660 fortified police stations have been built, out of which 112 stations have been built in Bihar. - The GoI’s focus on security infrastructure has been pivotal. In last seven years 406 new security camps have been established in core LWE affected areas. - Under Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEMS) Scheme, assistance is provided for basic structure of camps and for provisioning of helicopters for counter LWE operations. Rs.1267.02 Crores have been provided to Central Agencies through this scheme since 2014-15.-5- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 - To strengthen the security apparatus of the states, GoI provides Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) as per their operational needs. The CAPFs maintain an unbreakable counter-insurgency grid together and coordinate with State Police Forces to conduct operations seamlessly. CAPFs alongside State Police have contributed immensely in the success achieved in eradicating the menace of naxalism to a great extent. - There has been a special focus on the financial choking of LWEs and unearthing of the nexus between CPI (Maoists) and its financial supporters. For effective action towards choking of funds and other resources to LWE, coordinated actions are being taken by State Police in cooperation with Central agencies by various means. Two Multi-Disciplinary Groups were formed in Ministry of Home Affairs in 2016 to monitor the flow of funds to LWE cadres; one at Centre Level and another at State level. • On the development front, apart from flagship schemes of Government of India (GoI) several LWE specific initiatives have been taken with special thrust on expansion of road networks, improving telecommunication connectivity, financial inclusion, education and skill development. A few of them are enumerated below--6- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 - For expansion of road network, 17,319 km, including 2639 km in Bihar have been sanctioned under 02 LWE specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas (RCPLWEA). Of these, 15,068 km, including 2497 km in Bihar have been constructed. - For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas, 11,549 mobile towers, including 371 mobile towers in Bihar are planned, out of which 9,627 towers, including 366 mobile towers in Bihar have been commissioned. - For Skill Development, 48 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been approved. Of these, 46 ITIs, including 09 ITIs in Bihar are functional. - For quality education in tribal areas 259 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) have been sanctioned, out of which 179 EMRSs, including 02 EMRSs in Bihar are functional. - For Financial Inclusion, 6,025 Post Offices, including 264 Post Offices in Bihar with banking services have been opened in LWE affected districts. Also, 1,804 Bank Branches (including 215 Bank-7- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 Branches in Bihar), 1321 ATMs (including 26 ATMs in Bihar) and 74,720 Banking Correspondents (including 17,855 Banking Correspondents in Bihar) have been made operational in LWE affected districts. - For further impetus to development, funds are provided for filling critical gaps in public infrastructure in LWE affected Districts under Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme. Till now, Rs. 4,175.10 crore have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017. Rs 462.57 crore have been released to Bihar. • The resolute implementation of the ‘National Policy and Action Plan 2015’ has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread. LWE, which has been a serious challenge to the internal security of the nation, has been significantly curbed in the recent times, and has been constricted to only a few pockets. The number of LWE-affected districts reduced gradually from 126 in 2013 to 02 in March, 2026. 01 district has been kept under the category of 'District of Concern’, where the violent activities of LWE have been brought under control, but a very small number of cadres are still present. These districts are on the verge of becoming free from LWE. Presently, 35 districts are categorized as ‘Legacy & Thrust’ districts,-8- R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 which are no more LWE affected, but support to these districts is required for consolidating the position and continued support in respect of security and development measures for some more time. 04 districts of Bihar (Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Lakhisarai) are catgegorized as Legacy & Thrust districts. • The LWE perpetrated violence incidents have come down from high of 1936 in year 2010 by 88% to 234 in 2025. Resultant deaths of Civilians & Security Forces have also come down from high of 1005 in year 2010 by 90% to 100 in year 2025. In 2025, security forces have neutralized 364 Naxals, arrested 1022 and facilitated 2337 surrenders. The number of Police Stations reporting LWE related violence has significantly reduced from 465 Police Stations in 2010 to 119 Police Stations in the year 2025. • Year-wise details of violence perpetrated by LWEs from 2021 and the casualties are at Annexure I. Year-wise details of violence perpetrated by LWEs from 2021 and the casualties in Bihar are at Annexure II. • GoI is committed for complete eradication of LWE from our country as well as holistic development of areas getting freed from Left Wing Extremism. *****Annexure I R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 Incidents of Violence Perpetrated by LWEs in the Country Year LWE Civilian SF LWE perpetrated death death death violence 2021 361 97 50 126 2022 413 82 16 57 2023 486 106 32 50 2024 374 131 19 290 2025 234 64 36 364 2026 (Mar 15) 26 5 1 52 Total 1894 485 154 939Annexure II R.S.S.Q.NO. *402 FOR 01.04.2026 Incidents of Violence Perpetrated by LWEs in Bihar Year LWE Civilian SF LWE perpetrated death death death violence 2021 20 7 0 6 2022 11 1 0 3 2023 4 0 0 0 2024 2 1 0 0 2025 3 0 0 1 2026 (Mar 15) 0 0 0 0 Total 40 9 0 10 -----