How to make CRPF more effective in fight against Naxalism

Abstract

Naxal problem which is nothing but left wing extremism (LWE) started in India from Naxalbari village in West Bengal in 1967 and over the time it gradually spread over to as many as 106 districts covering 10 states of India. In order to holistically address the LWE (naxal) problem in an effective manner, Government of India has created LWE division in Ministry of Home Affairs on 19th Oct 2006 and has formulated National Policy and Action Plan adopting four-pronged strategy in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights and entitlement of local communities and management of public perception. The government of India has deployed large number of battalions of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to ensure security of local populace in naxal affected districts/states. Currently about 123 Battalions of CAPF are deployed in 10 naxal-affected states and out of that 86 battalions are from CRPF. Clearly, CRPF is deeply involved in containing naxal menace. Purpose of this strategy is to identify the infrastructural and strategic needs of CRPF and to recommend policy measures so that those needs could be addressed. A more potent CRPF will be able to limit the undesirable activities and influence of the naxals to the barest minimum which will ultimately enable the administrative machinery of the district/state to address the developmental needs of local community affected by the naxal violence. A close analysis of the following table reveals that despite having large deployment of security forces (CAPF) in naxal infested areas for the last at least two decades security forces are nowhere near to curb this menace decisively.