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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.

Golden Triumph

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

India’s journey in chess, once synonymous with Viswanathan Anand, has evolved into something far grander. A country that once revered a single grandmaster now basks in the collective glory of its young prodigies. The 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad in Budapest marked the crowning achievement of this new generation. India’s chess masters not only created history by winning team gold medals in both the men’s and women’s competitions, but they also swept individual honours with four gold medals. The performance in Budapest, which saw India dominate on the world stage, is the culmination of a chess revolution decades in the making.

The victories of Gukesh Dommaraju, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi in the men’s category as well as the wins by Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev in the women’s competition, were historic. It is a long way from the days when Viswanathan Anand stood alone on the global chess stage. Anand’s world championship victories, particularly in 2000 when he became India’s first world chess champion, paved the way for a new generation of players in a country where cricket has traditionally held a monopoly on sporting fame.

India’s rise in chess is not just a story of talent but of perseverance and innovation. The country’s chess revolution has been aided by the digital age, with online platforms like Chess.com and Lichess.org playing pivotal roles in democratizing the game. Many of India’s young grandmasters, including Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa sharpened their skills by playing against global opponents online, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced tournaments into virtual spaces. The 2020 Chess Olympiad, held online, saw India joint winners alongside Russia - a precursor to the Budapest triumph.

In Budapest, the Indian team did more than win—they dominated. The women’s team, led by Harika, finished with 19 points, edging out Kazakhstan. 18-year-old Deshmukh, who remained undefeated with seven wins and four draws, was praised by chess great Susan Polgar for her “amazing performance,” with predictions that this Indian team would stay on top for years to come.

Challenges persist. Funding, though improving, lags behind nations like Russia and China. Young players often juggle chess careers with educational demands. Sustaining dominance will need ongoing investment in infrastructure, sponsorship, and global exposure.

But for now, India can celebrate a victory that was years in the making. The 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest is a milestone not only in the annals of Indian chess but in the global chess community as well. The triumph, both in the Open and Women’s events, signals a new era where Indian chess players are not just competing with the best — they are the best! And in a game that rewards foresight, India’s chess future looks brighter than ever.

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