MHA Declares Historic Success in Reducing Left Wing Extremism, Focusing on Development and Security
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that 2025 marked a period of unprecedented success in combating Left Wing Extremism (LWE), driven by a multi-pronged strategy focused on security, development, and securing tribal rights. The sustained efforts have resulted in the drastic shrinking of the “Red Corridor” and are pushing toward a ‘Naxal-Free Bharat’.
Key achievements and statistics highlighting the success:
Geographical Consolidation: The geographical spread of Naxal influence has been curtailed significantly, confining LWE to only a few isolated pockets in the country.
Violence Decline: There has been a continuous and steep decline in LWE-related violence. This reduction is attributed to robust security operations by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and State Police Forces.
Development Thrust: Development is actively being used as a counter-LWE strategy. The MHA focused on saturation coverage of essential services and infrastructure in former LWE-affected districts, including the deployment of security-related schemes, education, health, and road construction.
Security Operations: Specific security successes include:
The establishment of new Security Force Camps in previously inaccessible and highly sensitive core areas, such as the Tri-junction areas of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
Elimination and Apprehension of Top Leadership: Several senior LWE commanders were neutralized, weakening the organizational structure of the extremist groups.
Community and Tribal Rights: The implementation and strict enforcement of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and other tribal development schemes have been prioritized to address the root cause of the conflict—the alienation of tribal communities from their land and resources.
What is the ‘Red Corridor’? The ‘Red Corridor’ is a geographic region in East, Central, and South India characterized by significant Left Wing Extremism (LWE) activity, which has historically covered several states. The MHA’s stated goal is to eliminate this corridor and achieve a ‘Naxal-Free Bharat’.
Policy Relevance
The MHA’s declaration of success signifies a critical shift in national security policy, moving from large-scale counter-insurgency to targeted area-domination and saturation development. The emphasis on enforcing the Forest Rights Act and prioritizing development over purely security responses indicates a policy recognition that long-term stability requires addressing socio-economic and resource-related grievances, transforming LWE-affected areas into engines of inclusive growth.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Given the retreat of LWE from major districts, how will the Ministry ensure that the socio-economic development funding currently tied to LWE schemes remains dedicated to these areas to prevent a resurgence of conflict driven by development disparities?
Follow the full news here: From Red Corridor to Naxal-Free Bharat: A Decade of Decisive Gains (2014–2025)