Crime is more organised, invisible, and complex now; its purpose is to create chaos: Rajnath Singh

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (October 21, 2025) said that crime had become more organised, invisible, and complex, and its purpose was to create chaos in society, undermine trust, and challenge the stability of the nation.

Instability on the borders, new types of crime, terrorism, and ideological wars were the present challenges in the country, Mr. Singh said.

The Minister was speaking on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. It was on this day in 1959 that 10 policemen laid down their lives in an ambush planned by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh.

The concerted and organised efforts of the police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), and local administrations had ensured that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) did not escalate, and people in areas affected by LWE breathed a sigh of relief, Mr. Singh said, drawing attention to LWE, which has been a major internal security challenge for a long time.

“Several top Naxalites have been eliminated this year. Those who previously took up arms against the state are now surrendering and joining the mainstream of development. The number of districts affected by Left Wing Extremism has come down drastically. Areas that were once Naxalite hubs are now becoming educational hubs. Areas that were once known as the ‘Red Corridor’ have now transformed into growth corridors. Our police and security forces have contributed significantly to this success,” the Minister said.

“A total of 36,684 police personnel had made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty since Independence,” Tapan Kumar Deka, Director, Intelligence Bureau, said, adding that 191 police personnel had lost their lives in the line of duty in the past one year.