Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

Politics

Bihar Reports Drop in Major Crimes and Elimination of Active Maoist Districts

Bihar has recorded a reduction in major criminal offenses such as murder, dacoity, and rioting compared to the previous year, while active Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) has been reduced to zero districts across the state, according to official data shared by senior administration and police authorities.

What Happened

Addressing the media alongside top police brass, Bihar Home Department Secretary Pranav Kumar stated that strengthened policing and prompt interventions resulted in marked decreases in serious crime. Murder cases fell by 10.1 percent, dacoity dropped by 31.32 percent, and rioting incidents declined by 18.97 percent compared to the prior year.

The Home Secretary also reported that the count of LWE-affected districts, which stood at 22 in 2013, has now reached zero following sustained anti-insurgency operations. The final two to three active Maoist operatives surrendered from the Bhimbandh area of Munger district. In light of this reduction in extremist activity, the Central Government has designated four districts—Aurangabad, Gaya Ji, Jamui, and Lakhisarai—as ‘Legacy and Thrust’ districts.

Key Highlights

  • Crime Reduction: Substantial drops recorded in dacoity (31.32%), rioting (18.97%), and murder (10.1%). Compared to 1995–96 levels of around 6,000 annual murders, figures have dropped to between 2,000 and 2,400.
  • Zero Naxal-Affected Districts: Active extremist presence cleared across all formerly impacted districts, down from 22 in 2013.
  • Arrests and Case Disposals: Over 2 lakh arrests were recorded by June of the current year, following 3.85 lakh arrests in 2025. Between 4,000 and 5,000 additional cases are being disposed of to address an ongoing pendency of roughly 3.75 lakh cases.
  • Expanded Forensics: Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) utilization increased twentyfold, from 1,000 cases two decades ago to 20,000 cases.
  • Personnel and Infrastructure Expansion: The police department added more than 50,000 recruits in the past 18 months—constituting 40 percent of the current force—raising total personnel strength to 1.21 lakh. Over 600 police station buildings have been erected, and Rs 172 crore has been sanctioned for a Dial 112 (ERSS) facility in Rajiv Nagar.
  • Cybercrime Capabilities: Specialized cyber police stations led by Deputy Superintendents of Police (Dy SP) are active in every district, with 90 percent of these officers holding degrees in engineering or computer disciplines. The state has registered 7,000 cyber FIRs—the highest in India—with a national-best 16 percent recovery and refund rate.

Why This Matters

The statistical reduction across violent crime indicators and extremist threats directly reflects the scaling of law enforcement capacity, infrastructure, and technical expertise. Expanding the police force by 40 percent in 18 months and deploying specialized, technically qualified personnel to tackle digital offenses provides institutional support to ease case backlog and respond to emerging criminal patterns.

What to Watch Next

Police authorities have scheduled the training of an incoming batch of 19,800 constables to begin on August 17. The department also aims to sustain expedited disposals to lower the existing pendency of 3.75 lakh cases and expects cumulative arrests to rise by 15 to 20 percent before the year ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much have major crimes decreased in Bihar?

Official statistics show a 10.1 percent decrease in murder cases, an 18.97 percent decrease in rioting, and a 31.32 percent reduction in dacoity cases compared to the previous year.

What is the current status of Maoist violence in the state?

According to the Home Department, active Maoist presence has been eliminated, reducing the number of LWE-affected districts from 22 in 2013 to zero, with four districts designated by the Centre as Legacy and Thrust areas.

What steps has Bihar taken against cybercrime?

The state has established dedicated cyber police stations headed by Dy SP-rank officers across every district, registered 7,000 FIRs, and attained a 16 percent fund recovery rate, the highest in the country.

Source: Reported briefing by Bihar Home Department and State Police officials; The Hindu.