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.

Ajit’s revelation on Adani targeted at Pawar

Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: The NCP chief Ajit Pawar looks worried about his party’s prospectus in parts of Western Maharashtra, if his statement on meeting with industrialist Gautam Adani five years ago is considered as an indicator. However, the very next day Ajit Pawar clarified that his statement about Adani’s involvement in political talks between BJP and NCP was misconstrued. He emphasized that Adani had no connection to the incident. Nevertheless, this has sparked opposition outrage.


There are various reasons why Ajit Pawar disclosed this secret close door meeting on the eve of election. According to sources, the prime motive of this revelation is to create confusion about Sharad Pawar among the voters. The NCP led by Ajit Pawar is likely to face tough times in the parts of Pune, Kolhapur and Sangli district. Against this backdrop he has made an attempt to set a narrative that if time comes even Sharad Pawar can also join hands with the BJP.


The sources further claimed that Ajit was also trying to create rift between Pawar senior and Uddhav Thackeray. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is opposing Dharavi redevelopment, a project by Gautam Adani. So, with the help of a five-year-old meeting, Ajit made all efforts to generate confusion in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and especially between Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.


This has sparked opposition outrage as Ajit pointed out that Amit Shah, Gautam Adani, Praful Patel, Fadnavis, and Pawar Sr all were present at that meeting. Ajit Pawar further disclosed that the discussions before his early morning swearing-in as deputy chief minister in 2019 took place at a “businessman’s house” in Delhi. It has been five years. Everyone knows where the meeting happened. Everything was decided.


Ajit’s revelations prompted sharp reactions from Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), who accused BJP of using Adani’s influence to broker political alliances. The BJP has remained silent on Ajit’s latest remarks, but former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has previously alleged multiple meetings between Sharad Pawar and BJP leaders between 2017 and 2019.

Comments

bottom of page