top of page

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.

Above Glam Quotient

Pranati Shinde

Solapur MP Pranati Shinde proved that she is about some realpolitik when she declared open support to an independent candidate in the Solapur South assembly constituency after the polling began today. While the MVA constituent Shiv Sena (UBT) had fielded Amar Patil from the seat, Shinde lent support to independent candidate Dharmaraj Kadadi causing panic in the ally Shiv Sena (UBT) camp.


Born on December 9, 1980, in Solapur, Maharashtra, Praniti is the daughter of veteran Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Praniti has carved out her own political path, distinct from her father’s legacy.


Praniti’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and a law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai.


Her early exposure to politics and social work, coupled with her academic achievements, laid a strong foundation for her political career. She began her political career at the age of 29, when she was elected as a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Solapur City Central constituency in 2009. Her oratory and interpersonal skills while dealing with party workers helped her sail through the Modi wave and she reached Maharashtra assembly in 204 as well as 2019 from the constituency.


Praniti’s political acumen and dedication were further recognized when she was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Solapur Lok Sabha constituency in 2024. This victory marked a significant milestone in her career, as she became the first woman MP from Solapur. Her election campaign was noted for its emphasis on grassroots engagement and addressing local issues, which resonated with the electorate.


The fact that she was an MLA for 15 years demonstrates her consistent popularity and effectiveness as a legislator. During her tenure, she focused on issues such as women’s empowerment, education, and social justice, leveraging her platform to advocate for the underprivileged. In 2021, Praniti was appointed as the Working President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, a role that significantly elevated her profile within the party. She also served as the Chairperson of the Scheduled Castes Welfare Committee of the Maharashtra Legislature, where she worked tirelessly to address the concerns of marginalized communities.


Initially, when she was given responsibility of the youth wing of the party, it wasn’t taken seriously and brushed off as an additional of some glam quotient in the youth wing. However, the way she criticized and took on the opposition, her detractors soon realized that she is not just about glam quotient by is about some realpolitik.

Comments

bottom of page