There is a need to end Naxalism; it is not a fight of the government alone but requires coordinated efforts of all state governments and people, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.
Addressing the inauguration of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) office here, he said Centre was extending all cooperation to state governments to end left wing extremism, which he insisted was against humanity and the country and affecting the economy.
In the last eight years, several steps have been taken by providing connectivity and roads to remote villages, expanding education, giving employment opportunities and extending security presence in the affected areas, he added.
Shah said the Maoist incidents had come down by 77 percent.
In 2009, the number of incidents reported was 2,258 and this fell to 509 in 2021. The deaths of citizens and security personnel in 2009 was 2,021 and 1,005 in 2021. Thus, out of the 120 affected districts, Naxalism still prevails in 86.
In Chhattisgarh, the Maoist area of influence has decreased by 50 percent in the context of violence and by 66 percent in deaths of citizens and security personnel. At the same time, the surrenders had rise by 140 percent.
This, he said, was "a good success".
He said that by May 2024, all the states will have the NIA’s office, from the present 18 states. The target should be credible investigation and cent percent success in conviction.
The Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said Naxalism has been pushed into a corner. The people have faith in the state government and very soon Naxalism will be eliminated from Chhattisgarh.