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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.

Train Travails

Train Travails
Train Travails

Mumbai’s suburban rail network, the city’s circulatory system, is under strain. On a typical day, the trains shuttle millions of commuters from the furthest reaches of the metropolis into its bustling heart. But increasingly, the system is faltering, plagued by derailments, power outages, and simmering frustration over poor service. Recent events underscore how the network is becoming as much a source of stress as it is a necessity for the city’s 80 lakh-odd residents who use it daily.


Recently, a local train derailed in Kalyan, halting its journey toward Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the disruption highlights a growing trend of technical failures within the city’s rail infrastructure while putting a big question mark over the system’s ability to cope with mounting passenger demand. For many Mumbaikars, delays, cancellations and unplanned stops have become a routine inconvenience.


Yet, the problem is not just technical. A simmering discontent is beginning to manifest in ugly confrontations. A scuffle over spare change at Kalyan station ended with a ticket clerk being assaulted by a commuter. The incident has sparked a fresh wave of demands for better security at railway stations, as the staff now find themselves dealing not just with operational difficulties but with violence from frustrated passengers. While this case is an extreme example, it reflects escalating tensions in a system pushed to its limits.


These flashpoints are exacerbated by frequent service disruptions. A power supply failure between Thakurli and Kalyan recently paralyzed operations for an hour, leaving passengers stranded and walking along the tracks in search of alternate routes. Earlier this month, a new timetable rolled out by Central Railways has further angered commuters, particularly late-night travellers. The last trains to Karjat and Kasara now depart earlier than their counterparts on Western Railways, which continue to run services until 1 am. The move has been labelled “step-motherly” by the Suburban Passengers Association, which argues that workers on late shifts are being unfairly deprived of travel options.


The Western Railway network has not fared much better. Between September 30 and October 4, the addition of a sixth rail line between Ram Mandir Road and Malad slowed services to a crawl, with speeds limited to 30 kilometres per hour. Over 175 services were delayed or cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers scrambling to adjust their schedules. For a system relied upon by so many, such disruptions are not just inconveniences - they are daily crises. The financial capital of India, which prides itself on resilience, is finding its patience tested. The local train system, once a symbol of Mumbai’s spirit of enterprise and endurance, is beginning to buckle under the weight of neglect. Its commuters deserve better. What is needed is not just quick fixes or revised timetables, but a comprehensive overhaul of the network’s infrastructure and management. Mumbai’s lifeline is derailing - both literally and figuratively - and the city can no longer afford to wait for a solution.

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