top of page

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.

NCP (SP) banks on Awhad for Muslim outreach

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Jitendra Awhad has won Mumbra, a seat with a majority Muslim population, since 2009 but is now facing a challenge from his own former colleague


Awhad

Mumbai: When Sharad Pawar joined a mega procession to accompany Jitendra Awhad for filing his nomination form, it was a signal to the cadre and the electorate---that Awhad had the full support and backing of the party and of Pawar, in particular. It was also a repeat of 2019 when the president of the undivided NCP was present alongside Awhad as he filed his nomination. This year, the symbolism of the gesture is even more. Especially since Awhad’s constituency Mumbra-Kalwa falls in Thane, the home district of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. And opposing Awhad is his former party colleague Najeeb Mulla who represents Ajit Pawar’s NCP.


It’s no secret that Awhad is favoured by his party leadership for his fiery ways and his success is winning the Mumbra constituency for his party since 2009. Once a student activist who had famously protested against a hike in college tuition fees in 1982, the MLA from Mumbra is fiesty, outspoken and blunt. He doesn’t shy away from controversies and enjoys a close rapport and unrestricted access to his party boss, Pawar. He’s among those who stayed loyal even when the party split in 2023.


While the party says that Pawar’s presence at the large procession is a way of acknowledging and appreciating the “nishthavant” leaders of the party, Awhad also represents the NCP (SP)’s outreach and support to the Muslim community, having represented Mumbra-Kalwa three times in the state assembly. The constituency has been held by the NCP since 2009 and is believed to have a 75 per cent Muslim population and political analysts say that they key to winning this seat is to have a leader who enjoys the Muslim and the Marathi vote. Which Awhad has proved for over 15 years now.


In 2014, Awhad polled more than 86000 votes which was greater than the collective tally of all 16 of his opponents. A few months before the elections, Pawar had spent an entire day in that constituency, meeting and energising the party cadre and inaugurating infrastructure development and beautification projects that were conceptualised by Awhad.


Apart from development works, Awhad is known for his blunt statements and vociferous support to the local community. Just before the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he courted controversy by stating that Lord Ram ate beef.


This year, he challenged the Ghaziabad police to prove their claims that more than 400 children were being forcibly converted to Islam through gaming apps and the mastermind of the racket was allegedly in Mumbra. “Jitendra Awhad is a tireless voice for protecting the secular fabric of our state and our nation. When an elderly Muslim man was beaten up on a train to Mumbai on suspicions of carrying beef, it was his intervention that ensured the Railway Police cancelled the bail of the accused and charged them under mob lynching sections,” says Anish Gawande, national spokesperson of the NCP (SP).


It is said that until now, Shinde and Awhad had a tacit understanding for this constituency which falls under Shrikant Shinde’s Lok Sabha seat. But the Shinde-led Mahayuti is now on a mission to unseat Awhad and capture control of this constituency. Shinde is believed to have deputed several corporators and partymen to fan the area and drum up support. The contest also may not be a cakewalk with a former corporator and a Muslim leader fighting against Awhad.

Comments

bottom of page