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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.

The OBC Unifier

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Chhagan Bhujbal is known as a prominent OBC face in Maharashtra politics. He is also a good orator and had even acted in several Marathi films in his early days in the politics. He doesn’t hesitate in speaking out his mind and that keeps him involved in some or the other controversy all the time. His acts and words also help him remain in news headlines. It appears as if he loves all this.


Born on October 15, 1947, Chhagan Bhujbal started with a very humble background in Mumbai. With the family roots in Nashik, he used to run a family-owned vegetable shop at Byculla while pursuing his education in engineering. He was also involved in several social activities in the area that led him to join politics under Bal Thackeray. Eventually he became the corporator and then the Mayor of Mumbai. As a prominent Shiv Sena leader, he was known for his fiery speeches and strong organizational skills, which helped him gain popularity among the masses. As Mayor, he gave slogans like ‘Clean Mumbai Green Mumbai’ which became very popular.


Due to internal party politics, Bhujbal switched sides in 1991 and joined the Indian National Congress (INC) under the leadership of Sharad Pawar. He remained loyal to Pawar till 2023 when he left the NCP under Sharad Pawar along with Ajit Pawar and majority of other MLAs of the party. He had served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 2009 to 2010 and had been a Cabinet Minister in various capacities, including Public Works, Tourism, and Social Justice during UPA and Mahayuti regimens in the state.


He faced allegations of corruption and misuse of power, which have led to legal battles and investigations. In 2016, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case. However, he consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated. In 2023, he was appointed as the Minister of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection in the Eknath Shinde-led government.


While pursuing the politics within the NCP, Bhujbal emerged as a prominent OBC face of the state. He hails from the prominent Mali community. He floated Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad to pursue Mahatma Phule’s social agenda of equality. However, this was the same Bhujbal who, as a Shiv Sena leader, had ‘cleaned’ the Hutatma Smarak (martyre’s memorial at Flora Fountain in Mumbai) with ‘cow urine’ after it was defaced during a Dalit rally just about a couple of years before he joined Congress.


Bhujbal is also known for his keen sense of humour. His speeches in the assembly are spiced with apt anecdotes that make listeners giggle and laugh even as his opponents are hit hard. His standard reply, in jovial manner, whenever a journalist asks him about switching political party remains, “We do it for better prospects!”

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