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,...

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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.

Good Work Isn’t Enough

Divyaa Advaani
Jun 6
3 min read

Sales. The one word that sends shivers down the spine of even the most skilled professionals. You could be a phenomenal designer, a genius strategist, or a brilliant consultant—but when it comes to selling yourself or your services, suddenly the confidence evaporates. Sound familiar? You're not alone.

Many entrepreneurs and professionals struggle with the idea of self-promotion. It feels pushy, salesy, and sometimes even uncomfortable. And yet, no matter how great your product or service is, if you can’t sell it — or more importantly, if people don’t see it—your business won’t grow. That’s where personal branding becomes your best friend, your secret weapon, and your silent salesperson.

We often assume that good work will automatically bring in more work. To an extent, that’s true. Referrals and word-of-mouth can do wonders when you’ve consistently delivered excellence. But in today’s noisy digital world, relying only on referrals is like hoping someone passes your resume to the hiring manager instead of you emailing it directly. It might work. But it might not.

Personal branding is the bridge between your expertise and your income. It's what turns a name into a known name, a service into a sought-after experience, and a skill into a story people remember. Think about the brands you love — Apple, Nike, Tata. Their products are good, sure. But it's their branding that keeps them on top. People don’t just buy products — they buy into a story, a belief, a personality. The same goes for individuals.

When you brand yourself with clarity, consistency, and confidence, you attract clients without begging for their attention. You position yourself as a leader in your space. People come to you because they already feel like they know, trust, and respect you — even before they’ve worked with you. That’s not luck. That’s strategy.

Here's the good news. You don’t need to scream to sell. You just need to show up with intention. Personal branding doesn’t mean being everywhere. It means being where it matters, saying what matters, and doing it in a way that’s aligned with who you are. And when that alignment happens — clients don’t just buy from you. They remember you. They refer you. They return to you.

Too many people shy away from showing their face, their process, or their success because they don’t want to seem boastful. But here’s the truth: staying invisible doesn’t serve you or the people you’re meant to help. There’s someone right now struggling with something you’ve already solved — but they don’t know you exist. That’s not humility. That’s a missed opportunity.

It’s time to stop hiding and start owning your expertise. You don’t need to be a loud extrovert. You just need to be visible and valuable. That’s what great personal branding does — it transforms your business from one that chases leads to one that magnetically attracts the right ones.

And if you’re someone who’s genuinely excellent at what you do but find it difficult to talk about yourself or your work, I get it. That’s exactly why I do what I do. I help business owners and professionals like you build powerful personal brands that speak even when you’re not in the room. Brands that 5x your revenue without compromising your authenticity.

Here’s the exciting part: I’m currently onboarding only 2 high-end clients before the month ends. If you’re ready to finally stop hoping for business and start attracting it—this is your sign.

Let’s craft a personal brand that makes your sales effortless and your success inevitable.

Connect with me over:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyaaadvaani

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suaveu6

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suaveu

(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)