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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 Rebel In Action

Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is currently interviewing the aspirants who want to contest the assembly elections as the official candidates of the Maratha community. He had been interviewing the candidates continuously for past 24 hours and on Friday, he seemed emotional when the media went to have a look at the process. “Don’t let the fight die off,” he appealed the members of the community as he spoke to the media. However, this has led to questions whether he would emerge victorious in the fight in the court of people.


Born on August 1, 1982 in a modest family of Matori village in Beed district of Marathwada, Jarange-Patil rose to prominence in September 2023 after the police caned several of his supporters who had gathered at his village Antarwali Sarate in Jalna district. The police were trying to end forcefully, his fast, which he had started to push for his demand that Marathas be given caste certificates as Kunbis, which is classified under OBC communities.


After the quota given to Maratha community was struck down by the Supreme Court a couple of years back, the Maratha community leaders had been searching for ways to revive it and what Jarange-Patil is asking for is one of the ways, though it has several legal hurdles. The real issue of confrontation is that he wants the government to make decision in favour of their demand at once and the government is shying away from doing that, though it has already conceded to most of their other demands.


Jarange-Patil wields considerable clout among Maratha youth. They are just crazy after him. They flock in lakhs whenever he calls for a rally. They wait till dawn if he is to pass by their village just have a glimpse of him. It appears as if the new generation of the community have all their hopes rested in him. One upon a time Jarage-Patil was just like them. He had completed his education till class 10 and moved to another district in Marathwada to pursue the traditional profession of farming. However, he got involved more in the community affairs and participated in several agitations of the community including the one for quota after 2016. He is married to Soumitra Jarange, and they have four children. His family life is a testament to his ability to balance his personal and professional responsibilities. His son, Shivraj, is pursuing a B.Tech degree, while daughter, Pallavi, is in class 8.


Much before he participated in the quota stir, in 2009 he had founded the Shivba Sanghatana, an organisation dedicated to the cause of education and employment for Maratha youth. Manoj Jarange-Patil is known for his resilience and unwavering commitment to social justice. His leadership style is characterised by grassroots mobilization and direct action. He has a unique ability to connect with people from various walks of life, which has been instrumental in garnering widespread support for his initiatives. However, his path is fill with political challenges and legal hurdles.

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