Subhashis Mittra

There has been a significant decline in left-wing extremism (LWE) violence as well as the geographical spread of LWE in the last eight years. Comparison of data shows a reduction in incidents in 2022 as compared to 2013. The number of incidents of violence perpetrated by left-wing extremists was 413, while 118 were security force-initiated incidents in 2022-23, according to the Union home ministry’s annual report for 2022-23.

The data shows that there has been a 75 per cent reduction (397 to 98) in LWE-related deaths in 2022 as compared to 2013. In 2022, the resultant deaths and casualties to security forces reduced by 33 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively, in