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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.

Confident Shinde Gets Ready

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Shinde

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appears super confident of getting back into the seat after the assembly elections. More importantly, none of the analysts, who had written him off after his rebellion against MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray, would dare to do so today.


Two and a half years ago, when the Shiv Sena fractured into two factions and Eknath Shinde aligned with the BJP, backed by 40 MLAs, many political observers viewed it as the conch-call heralding the end of his political career. The sentiment was that Shinde, as Maharashtra chief minister, would be a pawn in the hands of the BJP and his faction would soon see a mass exodus to the Uddhav Thackeray camp. But, Shinde not just defied those prophecies, but has carved out a distinct identity and presented a significant challenge to the Opposition.


Shinde’s deep understanding of the administration and deeper commitment towards the people helped him get the necessary grip over the administration. Moreover, his ability to tirelessly work round the clock and sharp memory coupled with persistence in follow-ups helped him tighten the grip and make the administration run faster. The secret of his confidence lies in this work culture that he has followed over past two years. His tireless work for the people shall sail him through the assembly polls.


Shinde was elected to the Thane municipal corporation in 1997 for the first time and became leader of party in the corporation in 2001. After the death of his mentor Anand Dighe he filled the vacuum in the party and became MLA in 2004. Those were the tough times for the Shiv Sena when first in 2005 senior leader and former CM Narayan Rane quit the party to join the Congress and in 2006 Raj Thackeray separated to float his new party. Shinde stood firm with Uddhav Thackeray in those tough times. He got rewarded, in a sense, in 2014 when his son got party ticket to contest Lok Sabha election from Kalyan, which he could comfortably win in the Modi wave.


After the BJP and the Shiv Sena contested the assembly elections separately that year and Sena joined the government latter, Shinde was given the charge of MSRDC under the PWD department. The MSRDC was entrusted with several big ticket infra projects including Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi corridor and Atal Setu. His efficiency in getting the projects through brought him closer to the then CM Devendra Fadnavis. Shide was humiliated several times by Thackeray and people close to him, which didn’t leave any option for him but to leave the party and the government. He surprised even the BJP when engineered vertical split within the Shiv Sena. Not it needs to be seen whether he is able to throw more surprises when the assembly results will be out next month.

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