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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 Slams Congress Over Muslim Quota, Vows to Protest in Legislature in Karnataka

Updated: Mar 20

BJP questions 4% Muslim reservation in govt contracts, accuses Congress of appeasement




Muslim Quota

Bengaluru: The BJP on Monday announced protests both inside the legislature and across the state, condemning the Karnataka government's decision to grant 4 per cent quota to Muslims in government tenders.

The BJP has also declared that it won’t allow the Congress-led Karnataka government to implement the Muslim quota in tenders.


Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, made the announcement.

He stated, "Muslim appeasement is taking place on a larger scale in the state. Reservation is meant to uplift Dalits. The Constitution does not allow reservations for everyone."


He further alleged that the constitutional rights of Dalits were being taken away and given to Muslims solely for electoral gains.


"The Congress-led government has violated the Constitution by providing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims. There is no provision for religion-based reservation in the Constitution," Ashoka added.


Criticising Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ashoka said, "He wears a skull cap, introduced Tipu Jayanti, and allocated Rs 10,000 crore for Mullahs in this year’s budget. Now, he is fulfilling all their demands by granting 4 per cent reservation to Muslims. This is unfortunate. We will protest both inside the legislature and across the state."


"BJP’s central leaders have already stated that this 4 per cent reservation for Muslims is unconstitutional," he reiterated.


State BJP President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, stated in Bengaluru that the Karnataka government has not only decided to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government tenders but has also passed it in a Cabinet meeting and is preparing to introduce a Bill on this in the legislature.

"The BJP will strongly oppose this Bill," he affirmed.


"Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, has challenged us, saying that if we have the capability, we should make Muslims MLCs and Rajya Sabha members. I want to remind him that it was the BJP that made the late Dr. Abdul Kalam the President. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, Najma Heptulla was appointed as a Governor.


“Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Arif Mohammad Khan were also given the position of Governor. Ustad Bismillah Khan was conferred the Bharat Ratna, not by the Congress, but during Modi’s tenure," Vijayendra said.

He further questioned, "A former Dalit Congress MLA, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s house was burned down by Muslim goons. If the Congress is ready to go to any extent to keep Muslims happy, then what about the poor among other communities?"


"If you are providing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts, have the poor among Hindus committed a sin that they are not being considered? The BJP’s stand is clear. When the Bill is introduced in the legislature today, the BJP will protest both inside and outside the House. We will not allow its implementation," he asserted.

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