In an admission that reflected the serious Naxalite situation in the country, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said various groups adhering to Left-wing extremism have their pockets of influence in 20 states across the country and that more than 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these states were affected by the problem.

Addressing the Conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police, Chidambaram said, “Left-wing extremism purports to be a radical form of communism. Today, various groups adhering to this outdated ideology have their pockets of influence in 20 states across the country. Over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these states are partially or substantially affected by the menace.”

Ironically, less than a year ago, at the same police conference, the then Union home minister Shivraj Patil had a completely different take on the matter and had tried to downplay the Naxal threat, saying its representation was not accurate.

Chidambaram’s remarks, however, narrated an entirely different story. “The CPI (Maoist) remains the most potent of the Naxal groups with a presence in 17 states and a 90 per cent share in Naxal violence. Recent decisions taken by its politburo indicate that the CPI (Maoist) is determined to expand its activities into newer areas, on the one hand, and intensify its ‘mass resistance’ in the existing areas, on the other,” he said.

“Violence, the most visible aspect of Naxal menace, has been consistently witnessed in about 400 police station areas of around 90 districts in 13 of these states. Last year, 1,591 incidents of Naxalite violence resulting in 721 killings were reported from 399 police station areas of 87 districts of 13 states,” he added. “This year, 1,405 incidents of Naxal violence resulting in 580 killings have already been reported (up to August 27) from 355 police stations in 78 districts in 11 states.”

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