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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.

Wielding Soft Power

Political parties are scrambling for the female mandate, as alliances vie against each other useing attractive schemes and slogans

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Mumbai: Travel around Maharashtra and you will see hoardings with photographs of women voters—some hail the Chief Minister for caring about his “ladki bahins”, roughly translated as beloved sisters. Then there are some with women in the advertisement urging other women to vote for the ‘clock symbol’ or Ajit Pawar’s NCP for the largesse being doled out to the women. On FM radio, there are ads with women wondering if the monthly pension schemes for women will stop if the Mahayuti alliance loses the polls. Women, as we see, are at the centre stage of these assembly elections.


After the Chief Minister’s high octane Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana launch and campaign, the MVA has promised a monthly pension of Rs 3000 to the women of Maharashtra. This doubles the amount currently being doled out. There are riders of course; with a cap of the family income to be eligible for this pension. Election speeches, across parties, talk about women—their safety, education and employment opportunities for them and their children, promises which will tug at their heartstrings. Parties have also roped in a women force of campaigners to carry the message and appeal to women voters. The most vocal female politician in Maharashtra at present, Supriya Sule, connects effortlessly with women voters, breaking down development issues into a language which even the unlettered can understand. Around 10 per cent on the candidates of both alliances are women. Politicians are organising ‘paithani contests’, cooking competitions and making handsome donations to self-help groups run by women. Cash, competitions, fun and frolic are all being used to get the woman voter to their side.


Wives, mothers, sisters and daughters are working hard as campaign managers for male politicians. They can effortlessly hug a woman farmer, pat a young girl on the shoulder and can walk straight into the woman’s hearth and heart.


The focus on women lies in the numbers. Data by the election commission shows that Maharashtra has 46.6 million women voters as against 49.7 million men. The efforts are to draw a maximum number of women out of their homes to vote. Official data in absolute numbers showed that 5o per cent women voted pan India during the Lok Sabha elections this time.


There are sociological factors at play as well. Out of 288 assembly constituencies, there are 38 peculiar constituencies in various parts of the state where there is a larger percentage of women voters. This is because of the trend of men moving out of their towns and villages for work opportunities while the women stay back to tend to the farm or home. Some of these are Akola, Gondia, Shahada, Chiplun, Sindhudurg and parts of Kolhapur. Here, women will decide which candidate wins. With increasing education and financial independence, women now make their decisions without being coerced or influenced by men. It’s easy to then appeal to them with schemes and emotional messaging.


Women centric schemes have proven beneficial to the BJP in the past; the Ujjwal Yojana, the Laadli Yojana in Madhya Pradesh and the Lakhpati Ladli Yojana, among others, have helped the parties reap benefits from women voters.

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