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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated,...

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated, highlighting the dramatic turnaround. He revealed that from approximately 100 Maoist cadres on record in January 2024, the number has plummeted to barely 10 individuals whose movements are now confined to a very small pocket of the Bhamragad sub-division in South Gadchiroli, near the Chhattisgarh border. “North Gadchiroli is now free of Maoism. The Maoists have to surrender and join the mainstream or face police action... there is no other option.” The SP attributes this success to a meticulously executed multi-pronged strategy encompassing intensified anti-Maoist operations, a robust Civic Action Programme, and the effective utilisation of Maharashtra’s attractive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. The Gadchiroli Police, especially the elite C-60 commandos, have achieved significant operational milestones. In the last three years alone, they have neutralised 43 hardcore Maoists and achieved a 100 per cent success rate in operations without police casualties for nearly five years. SP Neelotpal highlighted that the security forces have aggressively moved to close the “security vacuum,” which was once an estimated 3,000 square kilometres of unpoliced territory used by Maoists for training and transit. The establishment of eight new police camps/Forward Operating Bases (FoBs) since January 2023, including in the remote Abujhmad foothills, has been crucial in securing these areas permanently. Winning Hearts, Minds The Civic Action Programme has been deemed a “game changer” by the SP. Through schemes like ‘Police Dadalora Khidaki’ and ‘Project Udaan’, the police have transformed remote outposts into service delivery centres, providing essential government services and employment opportunities. This sustained outreach has successfully countered Maoist propaganda and, most critically, resulted in zero Maoist recruitment from Gadchiroli for the last few years. Surrender Wave The state’s progressive rehabilitation policy has seen a massive influx of surrenders. “One sentiment is common among all the surrendered cadres: that the movement has ended, it has lost public support, and without public support, no movement can sustain,” the SP noted. The surrender of key figures, notably that of Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias ‘Bhupathi,’ a CPI (Maoist) Politburo member, and his wife Sangeeta, was a “landmark development” that triggered a surrender wave. Since June 2024, over 126 Maoists have surrendered. The rehabilitation program offers land, housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and employment. Surrendered cadres are receiving skill training and are successfully transitioning into normal life, with around 70 already employed in the local Lloyds plant. A District Reborn The transformation of Gadchiroli is now moving beyond security concerns. With the decline of extremism, the district is rapidly moving towards development and normalcy. The implementation of development schemes, round-the-clock electricity, water supply, mobile towers, and new infrastructure like roads and bridges is being given top priority. He concludes that the police’s focus is now shifting from an anti-Maoist offensive to routine law-and-order policing, addressing new challenges like industrialisation, theft, and traffic management. With the Maoist movement in “complete disarray” and major strongholds like the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone collapsing, the SP is highly optimistic. Gadchiroli is not just getting rid of the Naxal menace; it is embracing its future as a developing, peaceful district, well on track to meet the central government’s goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

A Step Backwards?

The SC ruling upholding the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, marks a victory for religious education - but at what cost to India’s progress? While the judgment emphasizes the state’s responsibility to ensure that madrassa students receive an education that prepares them for contemporary life, the ruling also perpetuates an insular approach to learning that fails to equip students with essential skills for a modern economy.


At the heart of the Court’s decision is a noble ambition: to enable madrassas to blend religious study with secular subjects, thereby meeting basic educational standards. The court viewed this hybrid model as a bridge between tradition and modernity, helping madrassas equip their students to compete in a world increasingly defined by technological and scientific proficiency. However, this assumes that madrassas will embrace a broader curriculum when in fact the reality paints a more regressive picture.


Last year, the Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the most influential Islamic seminaries, had issued a fatwa banning the teaching of English and other languages besides Urdu and Arabic. This move, accompanied by strict mandates discouraging students from engaging with subjects beyond classical Islamic texts, epitomizes a mindset resistant to reform. Such edicts directly contradict the Court’s call for educational inclusivity.


A monolithic religious education, when devoid of critical engagement with diverse worldviews, lays the potential groundwork for insularity and even radicalization. With the SC’s endorsement, these madrassas will continue to operate under a framework that promotes limited secular content. The consequences of this are far-reaching. While madrassa education may instil a deep understanding of Islamic culture and philosophy, its isolation from mainstream educational disciplines denies students access to knowledge that is vital for socio-economic advancement. Without grounding in subjects like science, mathematics, and modern languages, students remain at a disadvantage in job market.


Furthermore, this approach raises questions about the adherence to Article 21A, which guarantees the right to free and compulsory education for children aged six to fourteen. A well-rounded education is essential for social mobility, and in its absence, madrassa graduates risk being marginalized, lacking the necessary skills for careers beyond religious vocations.


While the Supreme Court’s decision appears to champion educational diversity, it also sends a message that religious schooling need not conform to the same standards as public education. This verdict, though legally sound, is ultimately a regressive step for Indian society. Rather than drawing madrassa students into the mainstream, it risks leaving them on the margins of progress, confined to an educational model that is both narrow and insular—and, in some cases, vulnerable to extremist ideologies. For India to thrive, every child needs a broad, balanced education - an aspiration this judgment regrettably does little to fulfil.

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