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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.

Parliamentary Disgrace

Updated: Dec 23, 2024

Leadership, especially in opposition, demands dignity, poise and a certain gravitas. These qualities elevate the office and serve as a counterweight to the government’s excesses. Yet Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India’s most storied political family and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, seems woefully ill-equipped to embody such virtues. The events that unfolded in Parliament, a scuffle more befitting a street brawl than the hallowed halls of democracy, have starkly illustrated this failing.


Sonia Gandhi, Rahul’s own mother, conducted herself with a dignity that won grudging respect even from her most ardent critics. Leaders like Sushilkumar Shinde and Sharad Pawar understood the art of balancing firm opposition with parliamentary decorum. Rahul Gandhi, by contrast, has turned the Leader of Opposition’s chair into a soapbox for puerile theatrics and unfocused belligerence.


The shameful scuffle in the Lok Sabha has added yet another blot to India’s parliamentary democracy. Instead of engaging in disruptive theatrics, Gandhi would do well by focusing on rigorous research and delivering incisive speeches that challenge the government on substantive issues.


It is not just the Congress that suffers from Gandhi’s missteps; his conduct erodes the Opposition’s ability to hold the government accountable. His actions provide fodder for the ruling BJP, which has accused him of incitement and hooliganism.


Rahul Gandhi must realize that the role of Leader of Opposition is not a birthright but a responsibility. His street-level antics may energize a few supporters but do little to address the concerns of millions who look to the Opposition for leadership.


Opposition does not flourish through disruption alone; it must engage with substance. Mr. Gandhi’s repeated attempts to pivot to issues such as corporate malfeasance involving Adani or alleged constitutional violations by the BJP lack coherence and are often eclipsed by his own missteps. His claim that the BJP’s protests were designed to shield the Home Minister from scrutiny over contentious remarks would carry more weight if it were not delivered in the shadow of yesterday’s disgraceful scuffle. His conduct, particularly towards a female MP, as alleged, undermines the moral high ground he so often claims.


Parliament is a theater of ideas, not a boxing ring. For a Leader of Opposition to resort to alleged physicality in the face of disagreement is not only unbecoming but corrosive to the institutions he is sworn to uphold. Rahul Gandhi must realize that leadership is not just about resistance; it is about responsibility. Without this epiphany, he risks reducing the Congress party—and its proud legacy—to a footnote in Indian politics.


In a democracy as vibrant and complex as India’s, dissent is a cornerstone. However, dissent devoid of discipline and direction risks undermining the very institutions it seeks to protect. It is time for Rahul Gandhi to rise above his penchant for theatrics and deliver the mature leadership that his position — and the nation — demands.

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