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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.

CM’s Troubleshooter

Updated: Nov 15, 2024

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He came to be known as the saviour of the Eknath Shinde government in the state over past couple of years. He remained a prominent negotiator when it came to negotiations with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. He was also there at Davos to sign several MOUs that the government flaunted later. It can be seen that he is building his power. He is Uday Samant.


Born in a traditionally landlord family hailing from Sindhudurg district, money was never an issue for Uday Samant. His father Ravindra Samant had channelled the inherited family wealth in the contract business and the family had already came to be known as the prominent contractors by the time Uday completed his diploma in engineering. After a brief stint in Shiv Sena, Samant came into contact with NCP’s Gurunath Kulkarni which led to his meteoric rise on the political arena. Kulkarni groomed Samant and ensured that the party trusted the young leader. Samant reciprocated with sparkling results.


In 2004 NCP fielded Uday Samant in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election from Ratnagiri constituency. His victory marked the beginning of a series of successful elections. He was re-elected in 2009, 2014, and 2019. For a brief period towards the end of UPA regimen in 2014 he served as the Minister of State for Urban Development. After switching over to the Shiv Sena in 2014, he concentrated on building his network within the party organization in his home district. One of the notable milestones in Samant’s career was his appointment as the Minister of Higher and Technical Education in 2019. That gave him the much needed opportunity to grow across the state.


During the rebellion, he was the last person to switch side to join Eknath Shinde. After a meeting with the then Chief Minister Uddahv Thackeray he went ‘not reachable’ and emerged in the Shinde camp at Guwahati putting an end to speculations that the rebellion might fizzle out. He got the reward and in 2022 Uday Samant was appointed as the Cabinet Minister for the Ministry of Industries in the Eknath Shinde-led government. While junking all the allegations levelled by the MVA allies he demonstrated how the government promoted industrial growth and development in the state.


Samant is known for his dynamic leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering dedication to public service. He also emerged as the biggest trouble shooter for CM Eknath Shinde over past two and half years. From demonstrating industrial growth in the state to countering the opposition’s claims and pacifying agitators opposing the mega projects and holding fruitful negotiations with agitators and building party network in the Konkan region Samant proved his mettle. His role after the current assembly elections would be worth watching as to how he uses his qualities and abilities.

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