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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.

Prioritising Stock Traders’ Mental Well-Being

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

People desire security in financial income, but trading is inherently uncertain. As per recent data released by SEBI, 93 per cent of traders in the Futures and Options segment lost money between FY22-FY24.


Stress and anxiety are significant concerns for traders, among other mental health concerns. Due to the uncertainty, inexperienced traders will likely face more stress than experienced traders. Several studies indicate that the percentage of Indian adults suffering from moderate or high levels of anxiety is close to 11 per cent. Stoxmind.ai, a psychometric assessment service for traders, estimates the number of traders with the same concerns to be around 18 per cent. A 2023 study by Mumbai-based GOQii estimated that 17 per cent of Indians were stressed due to financial instability. Stress and anxiety can be triggered by the chances of losing money, making wrong decisions, market volatility and family pressure.


Traders feel strong emotions such as fear, greed, euphoria or demotivation. There is a constant fear of missing out on opportunities or losing money. They face the emotional ups and downs that accompany profits or losses. The psychological pressure to succeed in a highly competitive and uncertain environment can lead to various mental health concerns.


Traders are also susceptible to cognitive biases stemming from making assumptions from a large amount of available information. Such biases are bottlenecks for objective decision-making. For example, recency bias causes one to perceive undue weight to a recent win or loss.


Negative self-talk is yet another mental health concern. It includes dwelling on past losses or doubting one’s abilities. Trading requires a high focus on analysing data, executing strategies, and managing trades. However, negative emotions act as a distraction to maintain focus. Negative self-talk can undermine confidence and lead to shying away from self-reflection - through journaling, psychometric tests or seeking feedback from a mentor.


Strategies for Well-being

The importance of self-care cannot be overestimated in a risky profession like stock market trading. Self-care can include yoga, meditation, gym exercises, and quality time spent with loved ones. Being physically active is essential not only to keep the body fit but also to support cognitive abilities. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help traders to stay sharp and make better decisions.


A support network can be crucial for treading objectively in the trading journey. Support networks can include personal relations, peer traders at the same level in their journey and senior traders. A support system can provide encouragement, advice, and a sense of camaraderie. Talking about trading experiences can help process emotions before they become overwhelming.


Traders need resilience - the ability to sustain setbacks and adapt to challenges. Trading is a journey with ups and downs; coping with losses and setbacks is essential. Building resilience involves cultivating a positive mindset, avoiding unhealthy coping activities, and maintaining a long-term perspective. Perception of losses can be reframed as learning opportunities for growth.


Cultivating self-awareness through introspection is the key to growing a strong mindset. It is crucial to pay attention to the psychological factors that inhibit trading, such as fear of taking losses or lack of confidence. It is better to be honest with oneself about the motivations for trading and what one feels rather than trying to suppress or hide those feelings. Self-reflection helps to play on strengths, manage weaknesses and identify areas for growth. Psychometric tests, journaling, mentorship, or professional guidance can help develop self-awareness.


Conclusion

Trading success is predominantly driven by psychology, surpassing the importance of market analysis and trading strategies. Understanding and managing emotions, cognitive biases, and an objective mindset is crucial for making sound trading decisions and achieving consistent profitability. Traders often make the mistake of focusing solely on technical skills while neglecting the significant impact on their mental state. Seek support from peers, mentors, or mental health professionals when needed.


(The writer is the Psychological Coach at Stoxmind.ai, a free trading mindset assessment tool.)

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