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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 We Don't Question Carrying Umbrellas?

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In Mumbai, June is a month of uncertainty. One minute it’s blazing hot, the next - the skies open up without warning. And yet, most of us carry an umbrella. Not because it’s already raining, but because it might.


We don’t wait for the first drop to go shopping for umbrellas. We take them out in advance, knowing full well that even if today is sunny, tomorrow could be a downpour. The umbrella becomes our silent weapon - a simple tool that saves us from chaos.


Oddly enough, this very logic is often forgotten when it comes to our finances. Most investors want to “time” the market. They wait for the perfect entry point. They follow headlines, economic predictions, even astrological forecasts, hoping to invest only when the conditions are ideal.


But markets, like weather, move on their own terms.


They rise without notice. They fall when you least expect it. And the biggest gains often come in short, unpredictable bursts. If you miss even a few of those good days, your long-term returns could take a serious hit. This is why seasoned investors don’t obsess over timing. They focus on discipline.


Just like carrying an umbrella every day in June might seem unnecessary on some mornings, investing through monthly systematic investment plans (SIPs) might feel boring during flat markets or downturns. But the magic lies therein. This very habit - regular, automatic, and emotion-free - helps you achieve financial goals and financial freedom.


A good investor doesn’t predict the market. They prepare for it.


Think of your SIPs as your financial umbrella. You may not need them to perform immediately, but when volatility hits, they shield you. When markets recover, they make sure you're already in.


And just like Mumbaikars would never forget their umbrella in June, serious investors never skip their SIPs. Importantly, besides SIPs, it is necessary for you to keep doing lumpsum investments frequently, without worrying about markets. Just ensure your time horizon is long term (5+ years).


So, the next time someone asks, “Is this the right time to invest?” - just smile and point to the umbrella in your bag. The goal isn’t to wait for the rain. It’s to be ready when it comes.


Conclusion

Don't wait to invest. Invest and then wait. The best time to invest is as soon as you have the money to. Don't try to time the market - your time spent in the market (remaining invested) beats timing the market. The pessimist bear may sound smart, but the optimist bull creates wealth. Keep deadlines. Execute. Don't indulge in analysis-paralysis. Scared money never wins.


Inspired by a LinkedIn post by Sumaira Abidi of SBI Mutual Fund.


(The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor.

Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

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