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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.

Virat Kohli’s 18-Year IPL Chase: Will This Be the One?

For Kohli, every year feels like “this is the year”—until it isn’t.

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For 18 years, Virat Kohli has been the face, heart, and sometimes the single reason Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans still have hope. He wears the number 18, he’s played 18 seasons, and now, in 2025, the big question remains—will this be the year his jersey number finally translates into an IPL trophy? Or will it be another year of Ee Saala Cup Nahi?


Let’s be clear: Kohli is not the problem. The man has done everything humanly possible. He’s won the Orange Cap (2016), played ridiculous knocks that made opposition bowlers question their career choices, and has been the highest scorer in IPL history. Yet, RCB’s trophy cabinet is emptier than a Bangalore pub at 11:30 PM.


The Great RCB Tragedy

RCB has reached the finals three times—in 2009, 2011, and 2016—and each time, they found a way to self-destruct spectacularly.

• 2009: They made it to the final, only to lose to Deccan Chargers, a team that no longer exists.

• 2011: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crushed their dreams because that’s what MS Dhoni does for a living.

• 2016: This one hurt the most. Kohli was in God-mode, scoring 973 runs in a single season, yet RCB still managed to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Imagine scoring almost 1,000 runs in a season and still not lifting the trophy—it’s like scoring 99% in exams and still not getting a college seat.


The Curse of RCB

Every year, the franchise assembles a squad that looks like it could take over world cricket. Every year, something inexplicably goes wrong. Either the bowling lineup leaks runs like a broken pipeline, or their batting collapses at the worst possible time. Some believe it’s bad luck, while others think it’s just RCB being RCB.


And then there’s the legendary Kohli-AB de Villiers partnership, which gave us some of the most unforgettable IPL moments—except the one where they actually won the title.


2025: The Year of 18?

With Kohli’s 18-year IPL journey coming full circle, will fate finally hand him the trophy? Or will he have to settle for another season of “Maybe next year”?


If cricket had a scriptwriter, they’d know it’s time for a happy ending. The man has carried RCB on his back for nearly two decades. He’s played alongside legends, survived countless memes, and given his fans heartbreak after heartbreak. If number 18 doesn’t bring him luck this time, we might need to check if RCB is actually cursed.


Either way, Kohli will keep playing his heart out. Because if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed—apart from RCB’s unpredictability—it’s that Virat Kohli will give it everything he has. Whether the IPL trophy finally lands in his hands or remains a distant dream, one thing is for sure: RCB fans are in for another rollercoaster ride.


(The author is a journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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