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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.

Home Grounded

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

In a historic drubbing, New Zealand clinched a 3-0 Test series victory against India on Indian soil—a defeat the host nation has not witnessed in 91 years. The shameful loss has stirred introspection not only about India’s cricketing fundamentals but also about the priorities in Indian cricket. In a twist that would be laughable if it were not so disastrous, Indian batsmen now find themselves as vulnerable to spin on home soil as their foreign counterparts.


The irony is rich: India’s own players are strangers to the turning tracks that once gave them an edge, all because the domestic fixtures that once defined Indian cricket—Ranji, Duleep, and Irani trophies—are no longer seen as essential. With few players mandated to participate in these tournaments, India’s preparation has withered, while visitors like Australia and New Zealand arrive more practiced and ready for challenge.


Once upon a time, the cricket calendar allowed a rhythm that cultivated excellence. One season, Indian cricketers would tour the West Indies, England, or Australia; the next, they would defend their turf against incoming sides. Without the glitzy interruptions of today’s Indian Premier League (IPL), attention remained firmly on domestic cricket. The Ranji Trophy was a battleground for regional pride and an incubator of national talent. Players like Sunil Gavaskar, who took immense pride in representing Bombay, or Gundappa Vishwanath for Karnataka, sharpened their skills and developed a deep, enduring commitment to the game’s demands. These tournaments provided Indian players with rigorous practice against top-class spinners, who often happened to be their own compatriots like the great spin quartet of Bedi, B. Chandrashekhar, E. Prassana, and S. Venkataraghavan, offering a unique experience and preparation in tackling the visiting foreign team that is absent today.


Today, however, this foundation has been eroded. The lucrative IPL, now an immovable fixture, has diminished the importance of long-format domestic cricket, sidelining it as a secondary pursuit. What was once a pathway to technical mastery and grit has now become optional, and India’s Test team is paying the price.


In the age of glitzy T20 leagues, traditional domestic tournaments have been sidelined. Indian batsmen who once took pride in technical mastery are now drawn into the faster, commercial allure of the IPL. With the IPL monopolizing the cricket calendar, the emphasis now is on quick runs and big hits. In Tests, occupying the crease for long periods is essential, but in today’s game, Indian players lack this mindset. Most telling symptom is the silence of cricket’s opinion-makers. Unlike past eras when poor Test performances invited heavy criticism, today’s media coverage rarely dissects the underlying issues. India’s cricket fandom, too, has changed drastically. Fans once had high expectations from their players, with Test failures greeted by massive public outcry. Today, instead of censuring Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, they continue to be regarded as sporting demi-gods who keep getting lucrative advertisement offers.

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