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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.

BJP’s Marathwada Face

Raosaheb Danve-Patil.

Marathwada is the crucial region for the BJP in this 2024 assembly election. After the Maratha quota agitation caused much damage to the party in Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the party is worried about its performance in Marathwada and the only hope it has rests on the shoulders of former union minister and former state unit president of the party Raosaheb Danve-Patil.


Born in a traditionally landlord family of Bhokardan in Jalna district of Marathwada on March 18, 1955, Raosaheb Danve-Patil’s political journey began in the early 1980s when he joined the BJP. He was among the first few electoral success stories of the political party which was known for principled politics back then. Building up his career from the Sarpanch to Panchayat Samiti, ZP and the assembly Danve-Patil has been elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Jalna constituency multiple times, showcasing his strong support base in the region.


In the internal party dynamics, he always sided with Gopinath Munde, who had his roots in Maharashtra. After sudden death of Munde, Danve-Patil’s political career took a big leap. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Narendra Modi-led government. But was made the state unit president of BJP when the party was firmly in the power at centre as well as the state. During his leadership, he played a crucial role in strengthening the party’s organizational structure and expanding its reach across the state. His efforts were instrumental in the BJP’s success in various elections, including the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, where the party emerged as the single largest party.


Danve’s political career is filled with controversies. He has faced allegations of corruption and misuse of power, which have led to legal battles and investigations. Recently his video went viral over the social media where he is seen kicking a supporter to push him out of the camera frame. However, being a good organizer and a leader with ground connect such controversies have hardly affected him.


After being re-elected to parliament In 2019, Danve-Patil became the Minister of State for Railways. He toiled for improving the railway infrastructure in the state and especially the Marathwada region. However, that didn’t help him win 2024 Lok Sabha.


Danve’s leadership style is characterized by his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. He is known for his extensive tours of his constituency, where he interacts directly with the people, listens to their grievances, and works towards addressing their issues. His down-to-earth personality and dedication to public service have earned him a loyal following.

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