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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.

Unemployment Leads to Anger

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Maharashtra has been facing a serious problem with unemployment. Based on current data, Maharashtra has a higher unemployment rate than the entire country. The COVID-19 epidemic has worsened the state’s unemployment crisis and resulted in job losses in several industries. The unemployment rate in Maharashtra has varied over time. Mounting cases of exam paper leak has added to the problem. As many aspirants were affected by the paper leak episodes, this has now become major election issue.  


The PLFS 2023-24 estimates the State’s urban unemployment to be at 5.2 percent, against 4.6 percent in the previous year. With respect to overall unemployment rate, Maharashtra clocked 3.3 percent in 2023-24, more or less the same as the national unemployment rate of 3.2 percent for the same period. What is the root cause of this sensitive issue and answer to this question is the exam paper leak. Due to which many examinations were cancelled and recruitment across the state and departments virtually came to standstill.


The repeated incidents of paper leak put the government at the receiving end. The anger of the people took the momentum as people started debating who is guilty of shattering crores of dreams, and jeopardising countless futures. A concern common to all the stakeholders, including the Chief Minister and the Maharashtra government, would definitely be, how can the well-oiled paper-leak industry be dismantled. Within a span of few months, three government exams have caused controversy for paper leaks and alleged tampering of marks. Police investigations into the leaks have revealed that all incidents of question paper leaks involve substantial amounts of money being exchanged in the process. Many instances have also revealed the involvement of government officials, teachers, and even personnel from printing presses in these acts. Social media plays a crucial role in the rapid circulation and dissemination of leaked papers, reaching thousands of participants almost instantly, most often in exchange for money.


The youths were up in arms and they took the issue to the streets. The opposition adopted an aggressive stance and raised the issue in the legislature. Under fire from all four sides, the government decided to bring legislation.  After much hue and cry and criticism, the Maharashtra government tabled the Maharashtra Competitive Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 in the state assembly. The Act aims to prevent paper leaks and malpractices in competitive examinations. The Act proposes stringent provisions, holding not only the individuals responsible but also the service provider or the company behind the paper leak. It proposes imprisonment of between three and five years and a fine ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs one crore.


The state government has announced that it would provide government jobs for 75,000 youths in the state.

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