Ranchi: The number of districts affected by Naxalism has come down to nine in 2025 from 22 districts in 2016, police said.
Success has come due to multiple reasons, including intelligence-based and effective operations, setting up of forward operating bases in extremely affected areas, surrender and rehabilitation policy for extremists, development works in freed areas, Jharkhand police claimed.
A total of 230 LWE cases were registered in 2001, a year after Jharkhand was formed. The incidents peaked in 2009 when 512 cases were registered across of the state. Maoists had set up inter-state and inter-district corridors for their movement, ran training camps at different places including Jhumra in Bokaro and Budha Pahar in Latehar and were aggressive against the police.
LWE incidents in five years from 2019 to 2024 were 134, 126, 106, 90, 129 and 95 respectively. The number of incidents is around 70 till date in 2025, police added .
In terms of geographical areas, LWE was the maximum in 2016. The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) declared 22 out of 24 districts as extremist-affected. Only Jamtara and Sahibganj were out of the list.
According to MHA, 19 districts were categorised as LWE-affected before 2021. The MHA removed Koderma, Ramgarh, and Simdega from the list in 2021, reducing the number of sensitive districts to 16.
In 2024, the MHA further removed five districts — Dhanbad, East Singhbhum, Dumka, Hazaribag, and Palamu.
The MHA’s latest list issued in March 2025 dropped Ranchi and Gumla, bringing down the number of affected districts to nine.
According to MHA, out of nine districts, West Singhbhum is the most LWE affected. Latehar is the other affected district.
Seven districts — Giridih, Bokaro, Chatra, Garhwa, Lohardaga, Khunti, and Kharsawan Seraikela — are ‘legacy and thrust districts’ where extremism has either being eradicated or is on its last leg.
Inspector general (operation) and state police spokesman Michael Raj said, “Police are faced with a major challenge only from a group of top Maoists hiding in Saranda forest of West Singhbhum. The Maoist groups are, however, also present in small numbers of two to three in Bokaro, Hazaribag, Chatra, Palamu and Netarhat.”
“JJMP, which has a few members, is active in Palamu. Tritiya Prastuti Committee is active in Latehar.”
Out of nine districts, West Singhbhum is the most LWE affected. Latehar is the other affected district, according to MHA
With over a decade of experience in journalism, he primarily cove...
Read MoreWith over a decade of experience in journalism, he primarily covers crime, security, central agencies besides reporting on civil courts in Ranchi. He also takes interest in education reporting and has been regularly writing on higher education policies in the state.
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