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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.

Congress workers unhappy with seat allocation

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

They are dejected as Shiv Sena (UBT) bags Byculla, Versova, and Vile-Parle. Only solace is Bandra (W)

Congress

Mumbai: A large number of Congressmen including long-time loyal party workers are upset with the way the party has been allocating its seats for the upcoming Assembly polls. Many allege that the party has been deliberately allocating seats to weaker candidates instead of strong and able ones who may have a chance at winning and can lead the party to victory.


The Congress as part of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) appears to have limited access over which seats it can and cannot contest. Due to pressure from the alliance partners, the party was forced to let go of the seats of Byculla, Versova and Vile-Parle to Shiv Sena (UBT), which has led to unrest within the party workers. Added to that, workers point out that candidates which appear to have a strong track record of winning in these elections have been sidelined.


A Congressmen on conditions of anonymity cites an example of ex-Congress corporator Ravi Raja from Sion-Koliwada. He was denied an election ticket. Shamim Ansari from Byculla is another example. He too had toiled hard in the constituency. Both have been ignored despite their names making it to the final list of aspiring candidates.


“Raja has been a councilor for nearly five terms and an Opposition leader in the BMC. Despite 45 years of his service to the party his name was dropped at the last minute,” said a leader. “Ansari too does not have a chance anymore because that seat has now gone to the Sena”.

“A certain section of MLAs has fought vehemently for the Byculla and Versova seats but in vain. We were worried about the Bandra (West) constituency. The party does not give into pressure and allotted it to Asif Zakaria, a deserving candidate,” said another Congress leader.


This leader says Maharashtra may go the Haryana way for the Congress if things are not looked into and taken seriously.


Nizamuddin Rayen, Spokesperson for the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC), said that not much should be read into such things as they happen during elections. “The Congress is in a good position within the MVA. Every deserving candidate will get a ticket. Those who don’t get are bound to get upset but they need not worry as our leaders will speak to them and convince them that it is the betterment of the party,” he said.

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