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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.

Jarange-Patil, the ‘Wild Card’ in Marathwada’s Arena

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Jarange-Patil, the ‘Wild Card’ in Marathwada’s Arena

Manoj Jarange Patil, a name that barely registered in Maharashtra’s political arena until last August, has emerged as a formidable figure whose influence is undeniably palpable in the key Marathwada region. Jarange-Patil’s announcement of fielding candidates who would look after the interests of the Maratha community and his threat of pulling down those leaders opposed to it has thrown leaders of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, particularly the BJP, in a mighty fix.


The ‘Jarange factor’ was undeniably influential in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where candidates from the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Marathwada suffered significant losses. High-profile defeats included those of BJP leaders Raosaheb Danve (Jalna), Pankaja Munde (Beed), and Prataprao Chikhalikar (Nanded). As the Mahayuti still grapples with these electoral shocks, Jarange has cranked up the pressure, warning of fielding candidates across all 288 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections.


His six hunger strikes since August last has ensured the Maratha quota issue is kept burning in public consciousness. Having demonstrated his disruptive capacity in the Lok Sabha election, leaders across party lines are frantically courting Jarange-Patil ahead of the Assembly polls to either seek his support or to plead for restraint in their campaigns.


As he prepares to take a final call on his ‘aspirants’ for the Assembly poll, Jarange-Patil’s aides claim that applications have flooded in from across Maharashtra, including former MLAs and candidates from both ruling and opposition parties. And not just Maratha candidates, but aspirants from reserved constituencies and OBCs as well – all of who are to be scrutinized before a decision is made by the activist on October 20.

Meanwhile, Jarange-Patil continues to target State BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with aggressive rhetoric. Notably, CM Eknath Shinde has managed to remain in the activist’s ‘good books.’


Not just Mahayuti and BJP leaders who are anxious for his support, but those from the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and other parties are scrambling to meet the activist.

In the past two months, several BJP leaders in Marathwada, out of trepidation for Jarange, have met him. Senior Congressman Prithviraj Chavan met him in August, while endorsing his demands. AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel recently met with Jarange Patil, proposing a potential Muslim-Maratha alliance as a transformative force in the elections.


This courtship of Jarange-Patil is not new: During seat-sharing talks ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Prakash Ambedkar had vexed the leadership of the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) by demanding that Jarange-Patil be permitted to contest from the Jalna Lok Sabha seat.


Despite holding 26 of the 46 Assembly seats in Marathwada, the BJP had come a cropper in the Lok Sabha, underscoring the ferocity of the Maratha agitation backlash and Jarange-Patil’s elemental force in tipping the balance. As the clock ticks to November 20, Jarange-Patil’s authority indisputably looms large over Marathwada, transforming him into a one-man kingmaker capable of influencing the fate of established politicians and parties by banking solely on his influence within the Maratha community.

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