Over 15,000 killed in Naxal violence since 1980: MHA

NEW DELHI: Over 15,000 people, including more than 3,000 security personnel, have been killed in Naxal violence in the last 35 years, an RTI query has revealed.

According to the Union Home Ministry, while 12,177 civilians have fallen prey to Left-Wing Extremism during this period, 3,125 security personnel, too, lost their lives tackling the Naxal menace.

Also, as many as 4,768 naxalites were killed by security forces between 1980 and May 31, 2015, an RTI query has revealed.

Another query under the RTI Act had the ministry stating that Rs 3,038.86 crore was disbursed among the various states in the last three years for the modernisation of the police force.

Between the 2012-13 and 2014-15 fiscal years, Andhra Pradesh received Rs 161 crore under Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) scheme while Uttar Pradesh got Rs 377 crore. Among other states, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand received Rs 73 crore and Rs 69 crore, respectively.

Following the bifurcation of AP, the newly-formed state of Telangana received Rs 68.13 crore in 2014-15.

A third RTI query found that the ministry has given approval to develop 400 fortified police stations and posts in 10 Left-Wing Extremism-affected states.

A sum of Rs 2 crore is being released for each fortified station with the expenditure in this regard to be shared on a 80: 20 basis by the Centre and the specific state, the ministry informed.