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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.

Govt to form committee for decision on assets of MTNL and BSNL in Mumbai: Scindia

  • PTI
  • Apr 1
  • 2 min read

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Mumbai: Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said a committee of government officials will be formed to take a decision on the assets of public sector telecom companies Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in Mumbai.


The committee will comprise officials of the state urban development department, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the central government's telecommunications department, and its report will be submitted in four weeks, Scindia was quoted as saying in a release.


The Minister of Communications attended a meeting organised at the Sahyadri Guest House here on the BSNL's assets in Mumbai and the communication system in Maharashtra. The meeting discussed in detail the assets of BSNL and MTNL in Mumbai, construction of mobile towers, communication systems to be created under the BharatNet programme.


Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Union Telecom Secretary Neeraj Kumar, BSNL's Managing Director Robert Ravi and others also took part in the meeting.


Scindia said the BharatNet project is being implemented to create a fast communication system for every gram panchayat in the country, and added that Maharashtra has done a good job in the phase I of the project.


The BharatNet project aims to provide broadband connectivity to all the gram panchayats in the country.


Under phase II of the project, a communication system should be established up to every remaining gram panchayat in the state as well, he said.


Scindia said that under BharatNet's phase II, one lakh towers of 4G network will be set up across the country.


These towers are planned to be set up mainly in unconnected areas. This will create a good communication system even in the most remote areas of the state, he said.


The Union minister also suggested removing the obstacles in creating a communication system in rural areas, he said.


Fadnavis assured full co-operation in strengthening the communication system by linking remote areas like Gadchiroli.


Security cover will be provided in the extremely remote areas of Gadchiroli to set up towers. If a communication system in remote areas is strong, it will be convenient to connect the local youth with modern technology, he said.


The government will work to create connectivity systems in all gram panchayats in the state under BharatNet phase II, he added.


CM Fadnavis assured that the state will be at the forefront of the country in the project's second phase as well.


Reservations on BSNL and MTNL properties in Mumbai will be examined. Action will be taken to remove the reservations as per the rules. The government intends to create various facilities for citizens on these properties. The state government will take action based on the recommendations of the committee formed, Fadnavis said.


Deputy CM Shinde said if a communication system is established in the remote areas of Gadchiroli, it will be possible for the state government to completely eradicate Naxalism.


"The government's efforts to eradicate Naxalism will be strengthened if a communication system is established," he said.

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