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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.

Shadows Dispelled

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

The suspense over Maharashtra’s next chief minister appears to be nearing its end with Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who has helmed the state for over two years, all but paving the way for a BJP candidate to take the top job.


Calling Modi the “head of the family,” Shinde assured the BJP high command of his cooperation in forming the government. His remarks also sought to reassure Shiv Sena loyalists that their influence within the alliance would remain intact, even if the BJP were to lead from the front. Shinde’s remarks should ensure a smooth clearing of the decks for Devendra Fadnavis, the former chief minister who was hitherto Shinde’s Deputy, to helm the state once again.


Either way, the numbers strongly favoured the BJP this time after the saffron party, under Fadnavis’ steely leadership, staged a stunning comeback to snare 132 seats of the 149 seats it fought on to emerge as the dominant force in the Mahayuti coalition.


Shinde’s Shiv Sena performed superbly as well, with its tally of 57 seats exceeding their collective total of the opposition MVA parties who were all but decimated. But the BJP cadres, who drove the alliance’s resounding victory, are eager to see one of their own at the helm— particularly Devendra Fadnavis, the ace strategist.


Shinde’s announcement also underscores his pragmatic leadership. Having taken charge in 2022 after splitting from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Shinde has built a reputation for grassroots connectivity and welfare initiatives. His efforts have endeared him to rural voters, many of whom actively campaigned for the Mahayuti.


For the BJP, sidelining Shinde outright would risk alienating a dependable ally, especially one who helped shape the alliance’s identity. Yet the political arithmetic and mandate leave little doubt that the chief ministership must rest with the BJP. A delicate balancing act is required—one that consolidates the BJP’s leadership without undermining the Sena’s morale or Shinde’s contributions.


Maharashtra’s electorate has handed the Mahayuti coalition a sweeping mandate, expecting a government that delivers on promises rather than devolves into factional disputes. Whether Shinde assumes a supporting role or retains a position of influence within the administration, his deference to Modi’s decision reinforces the alliance’s unity—a quality that voters will expect to see reflected in its governance.


As the Mahayuti transitions to a new government, it must ensure that its internal decisions do not overshadow the needs of Maharashtra’s citizens. For Shinde’s supporters, his legacy as a transformative leader remains secure, even if he steps aside for a BJP chief minister. For the BJP, the challenge will be to lead with magnanimity, rewarding loyalty while respecting its coalition partners.


Maharashtra’s voters have opted for stability, governance, and a coalition that works. The Mahayuti cannot afford to let power-sharing disputes jeopardize that trust.

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