LWE-hit last distt of concern now off the list
New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- West Singhbhum in Jharkhand-the last 'district of concern' related to left-wing extremism (LWE)-has been removed from the list, meaning there is not a single LWE-affected district or even a 'single district of concern' left in the country, officials aware of the matter said.
West Singhbhum is now among 38 "Legacy and Thrust Districts" (previously 37) that are no longer LWE-affected but will continue to receive security and development support to ensure insurgency does not return. People aware of the matter said the district was removed from the list after the arrest of Misir Besra, last remaining active top Central Committee and Politburo leader of CPI(Maoist), on July 28, and following a large number of Maoist surrenders from Jharkhand.
For security, surveillance and development purposes, the Centre tagged districts as LWE most affected, LWE affected, District of Concern, and Legacy and Thrust.
At its peak in the mid-2000s, India had over 120 districts affected by LWE violence. The proscribed CPI(Maoist) also had over 40 Central Committee members with armed cadres numbering several thousands.
Besra had refused to surrender and was hiding with his cadres in the Saranda jungle of Jharkhand all these months. Besra's continued presence in Jharkhand was the reason the government had tagged West Singhbhum as India's only district of concern.
Meanwhile, three Maoists with Rs.22 lakh combined bounty, were arrested in Seraikela-Kharsawan district of Jharkhand, police said on Wednesday....
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