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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.

Tax Terrorism Makes Impact

Tax Terrorism

Around two years ago, while addressing the gathering at the Krishhithon Agriculture Expo held in Nashik, then state agriculture minister Abdul Sattar said that his government will urge the Centre to abolish GST on farm supplies including fertilizer, seeds, and even agricultural equipment. It is critical to lower the cost of agricultural inputs. Farmers will benefit from reduced GST rates on all goods used for farming. I have spoken with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde about the situation, and the state government would shortly bring this topic up with the Center, the minister had stated at the event. Two years later the situation has not changed and the helpless agrarian community bearing the burden. The government which is very generous with the diamond jewellery sector while imposing the tax has not even left the educational field along with the farmers. The state government is not leaving any stone unturned to add to the woes through the SGST.  


The Goods and Services Tax was implemented in India with effect from 1st July 2017. In India, the maximum population is of the middle class and lower middle class where people either belong to the service class or they depend on agriculture for their living. In this scenario, the most important question is what is the impact of GST on a common man or a middle-class family. For the general public, the actual impact of any economy is when the prices of their necessities become affected. For the public in large when prices become low for the day-to-day goods and services that are consumed, the economy is good, else if the inflation rate is higher, then the public gets unsatisfied with the changes done by the government.


The single largest contributing Sector to the Indian Economy is Agriculture. It alone accounts for up to 16 percent of the Indian GDP. GST was supposed to have more of a greater indirect impact on the Agriculture Sector. GST directly or indirectly affects all sections of the economy. Agriculture industry is too not an exception. Transportation is one factor that has a direct impactful effect on Agriculture. The GST rate levied on agricultural products is 5 percent.


At the same time, GST rates on education services in India range from 5 percent to 28 percent, varying significantly depending on the type of service provided. Interestingly, diamond jewellery has finally been brought under the GST regime.


Now GST on diamonds being cut and polished from 0.25 percent to 1.5 percent effective from 18th July 2022. This shows the government’s overall approach towards the elite class. Significantly, GST on aircrafts, helicopters and cruise ships is also very nominal. The issue of ‘Tax terrorism’ was raised in Parliament. INDIA bloc leaders protested against increasing GST on various sectors. The government is in no mood to relent. People are suffering but a certain class is getting privileges.

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