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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.

Robin Hood to kingmaker?

Updated: Nov 25, 2024

Bachchu Kadu

Achalpur MLA Bachchu Kadu sports an image of Robin Hood. He has dedicated his life for the cause of the society and has instilled a confidence in the minds of people that he shall be there to help them in any of their needs. While reacting to the exit poll results, he said that the new government won’t be in place without support of independents like him.


Born as Omprakash Babarao Kadu in Belora village of ChandurBajar taluka of Amravatoi district in Maharashtra on July 5, 1970, Bachchu Kadu has strong ideals since very young age. He staged his first agitation when he was still a school boy. The agitation was against Tamasha (a vulgar form of folk dance) shows in his village. While he was pursuing his degree in commerce, he was immensely under the influence of Balasaheb Thackeray and even joined Shiv Sena. He was elevated to taluka chief of the organization when he exposed a toilet scam. However, he quit the party when requests for fund to help handicapped individuals was declined.


Kadu’s political journey began in 1997 when he was elected as a member of the Panchayat Samiti. Kadu contested his first assembly election in 1999 and lost by 1300 votes. Many of his friends had lent him money to be able to contest polls. His wife too had mortgaged all her ornaments to raise election funds for him. He contested again in 2004 and has been getting elected from the constituency since then. Yet, Kadu still doesn’t have a house of his own and lives in a rented house. He has one more distinction that he was the only MLA in Maharashtra legislature who opposed hike in the remuneration that the members of the legislature get.


As the founder of the Prahar Janshakti Party, Kadu has been a vocal advocate for the welfare of marginalized and underprivileged sections of society. His party’s mission is to address the needs of these communities and ensure their representation in the political arena. Kadu’s dedication to social causes is evident in his various initiatives, including his work with the Divyang Welfare Committee, where he has launched campaigns to improve the lives of differently-abled individuals in Maharashtra.


Kadu’s tenure in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has been marked by his active participation in legislative processes and his efforts to bring about meaningful change. He has held several ministerial positions in the state government, including Minister of State for Water Resources, School Education, Woman and Child Development, Labour, and OBC-SEBC-SBC-VJNT Welfare. His ministerial roles have allowed him to influence policy decisions and implement programs aimed at improving the lives of his constituents.

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