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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.

Why Is Israel Interested In the Golan Heights?

Israel

It’s been not just two weeks since the Syrian rebels sprung into a spree of excitement and joy of freedom with celebratory tunes being heard across the streets of Damascus, after former President Bashar-Al-Assad fled the country over night. Unfortunately, the celebration was indeed short lived as the territory became exposed to the world. Especially Israel, a country that has been struggling to have a clear territorial outline since decades and has been mired by conflicts, tussle and bloody battles with all the neighouring Arab settlements.


The conflict that Israel has been constantly putting up a strong face to dates back to 1917 when the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In 1920, the British Mandate for Palestine was established, which allowed for Jewish immigration and the development of Jewish settlements. Between 1920 and 1947, hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants arrived in Palestine, leading to tensions with the Arab population. Needless to say, the tensions are still simmering even today.


The moment Assad fled from Syria, there were two major concerns that haunted Israel. One being the biggest opportunity to strengthen presence in a land that has got freed up for all and second, to protect the Israeli population that has now turned vulnerable to the Syrian rebels. Over night Netanyahu approved of a plan to launch attacks in Syria, especially the Golan Heights region that acts as a buffer zone between Israel and Syria.


Israel vs Syria over Golan Heights

The Golan Heights has been a focal point of contention between Israel and Syria since the mid-20th century. Israeli occupation in Golan heights dates back to 1967 when Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six-Day War. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Syria attempted to take back the Golan Heights but failed to do so. In 1974 the UN jumped into picture and deployed peacekeeping forces Golan Heights after Israel and Syria signed an armistice. The Security Council established the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in 1974 as an attempt to maintain a ceasefire and creating a ceasefire buffer zone in the area. As of April, 1,274 UN personnel are deployed in the Golan Heights. Later In 1981, came Israel’s move to take over the Golan Heights inviting worldwide condemnation. Golan Heights region continues to remain under Israeli occupation, with approximately 20,000 Israeli settlers living in the region. However, this move has not been internationally recognized, except by the United States under the Trump administration in 2019. The region is considered to be a disputed territory by the international community, with the United Nations recognizing it as part of Syria. The dispute over the Golan Heights remains a major point of contention between Israel and Syria, with periodic clashes and tensions reported in the region.


Strategic relevance

The Golan Heights region is of immense strategic interest to Israel making the reasons behind Netanyahu’s move to approve of the action by Israeli Defence Forces to occupy the territory even more obvious. Netanyahu himself entered Syrian territory on Tuesday claiming it to be a security tour of the buffer zone seized by Israel. The strategically located region provides Israel with a military vantage point and control over the surrounding region. It is a plateau overlooking northern Israel, providing a significant military advantage. It is a critical source of water for Israel as it contains the headwaters of the Jordan River and feeds into the Sea of Galilee, an essential water reservoir. Control of the Golan Heights helps Israel secure its water supply. Needless to say, it facilitates Israel to detect and prevent potential attacks or infiltration in the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and the presence of groups like Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias. Besides, the region has fertile land suitable for agriculture and is home to vineyards, orchards, and cattle ranches, and has strong potential for tourism. Lastly, potential oil and natural gas reserves in the region add more strategic value to Golan Heights. Above all, religious and ethnic sentiments cannot be over-looked when it comes to human beings. Golan Heights has ancient Jewish connections, with archaeological sites and evidence of Jewish settlement during biblical times.


Security threat

While Israel’s motive behind entering Golan heights is clear in the region’s strategic importance, another factor being current chaotic situation in Syria. An entire Syria has fallen into the hands of rebel forces primarily comprised of Kurdish forces supported by Turkey. Left over Assad’s Syrian army is fast changing its loyalty to the stronger rebel group. This chaotic condition resulting out of political vacuum has created a possibility of revival of ISIS or Islamic hardliners in Syria. This has alarmed Israel and hence it has taken the preemptive action to destroy Syria’s arms depots & bases completely. It was an easy cakewalk for Israel as there was no opposing or defending force, with dismantling of Syrian army & rebel forces still lingering in rejoicing phase of Assad’s ouster. This eliminated possibility of rebels attacking Israel using modern arms supplied by Russia.

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