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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.

Ballot Beckons

Maharashtra’s voters face a critical choice on November 20. With the State Assembly elections unfolding this time against a backdrop of political turbulence and deep regional disparities, the stakes have never been higher. The Election Commission of India (ECI), mindful of past voter indifference, has unleashed a flurry of campaigns to stir the electorate, particularly in urban bastions like Mumbai. Yet the question looms: will these efforts inspire citizens to exercise their franchise or will Maharashtra be shackled by the malaise of voter apathy?


Mumbai, the financial capital, has long struggled with dismal voter turnout, rarely crossing the 50 percent mark. Pune, too, has seen similar voter apathy. The middle and upper classes, often disillusioned by the complexities of coalition politics and uninspired by candidates, have shunned their civic duty in such cities. The same electorate, however, often cries foul over governance. This paradox must be confronted head-on in this Assembly poll. If urban elites remain disengaged, the state risks ceding political power to narrow, sectional interests.


The election also underscores a proliferation of independent candidates. A record 2,087 independents are in the fray this year, a staggering increase from 1,400 in 2019. While independents can inject fresh perspectives, many are likely ‘dummy candidates,’ planted to confuse voters or siphon votes.


A divided vote could further complicate governance in a state already grappling with fragmentation. The split in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has muddied the waters, turning allies into adversaries and blurring ideological lines. Alliances on both sides - the Mahayuti and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) - are fragile, often at odds with their own histories and bases. If voters fail to deliver a decisive mandate, the state risks descending into the chaos of opportunistic coalitions and political paralysis. Maharashtra embodies a tale of two states. Urban centers like Mumbai and Pune boast infrastructure projects and high per capita income, while rural regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada are plagued by droughts, farmer suicides, and economic stagnation. This dichotomy demands leaders who can bridge the gap, but a fractured mandate would embolden populist quick fixes over long-term solutions.


Maharashtra’s future hinges on its electorate’s ability to prioritize governance over identity politics. The State contributes 13.3 percent to India’s GDP and holds immense sway in national politics. Yet, its political future hinges on whether voters can rise above apathy, sectarianism and the temptation to reject candidates via NOTA.


In 2019, over 7 lakh voters chose this option, reflecting their dissatisfaction. While symbolic, NOTA does little to change the political landscape; engaged voting does.


The electorate must confront this reality: a fractured mandate will deliver fractured governance. The task is clear. Maharashtra’s voters must turn out in record numbers and cast their votes with discernment. Only then can the state hope to transcend its divisions and harness its immense potential.

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