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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.

Defeated Winner

Eknath Shinde’s political trajectory after the recent Maharashtra elections is one of paradoxes: a triumphant contender, yet a ‘defeated’ winner. Despite leading his Shiv Sena faction to a solid 57-seat performance in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shinde’s hopes of returning to the Chief Minister’s chair are slender, if any as the BJP, which emerged as the dominant force with 132 seats, is resolute in its demand for Devendra Fadnavis to serve as Chief Minister. Shinde’s recent announcement that PM Modi would have the final say over the CM’s post has practically paved the way for Fadnavis to return as CM again.


However, Shinde has balked at the prospect of being relegated to second fiddle. His reluctance to assume a subordinate role stems from a mix of pride and political acumen. Having once been Chief Minister at a critical juncture when the BJP needed to topple the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, Shinde’s acceptance of a second-in-command post at this point would be viewed as a demotion. However, the BJP’s insistence on naming Fadnavis or one of their leaders as Chief Minister seems to be a non-negotiable point, creating a standoff that is unlikely to resolve itself in Shinde’s favour.


What lies ahead for Shinde, then? While the immediate prospect of returning to the CM’s office appears dim, his future is far from bleak. It is likely that he will find a way to retain influence in the government, potentially through an important portfolio or even by taking on a role in the Union Cabinet, should the BJP look to placate him.


Moreover, Shinde’s importance within the Shiv Sena remains clear, especially given his control over a significant portion of the party’s grassroots support. Should he remain a key figure in the government, his leadership in Maharashtra’s ongoing political realignment will shape his future. There is a tantalizing speculation here: In the medium term, Shinde may even position himself as a shadow contender for the CM’s post in the next election, particularly if the BJP’s hegemony over the state starts to erode in an unlikely event.


Whether the Mahayuti can transform its electoral mandate into a stable administration will depend on its leaders’ ability to rise above personal ambitions and focus on the larger task of delivering on their promises to the people.


The stakes are high for all parties involved. The BJP, buoyed by its record-breaking performance, risks appearing overbearing if it ignores the demands of its allies. Conversely, Shinde must navigate the fine line between asserting his party’s relevance and jeopardizing the alliance’s cohesion.


In the days ahead, the real test will be whether Shinde’s potential sidelining becomes a liability for the alliance—or whether his eventual role, however diminished, can be framed as a testament to the coalition’s unity. For now, Maharashtra watches as its triumphant victors grapple with the burdens of victory.

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