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,...

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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.

Your Brand Prints Money

Divyaa Advaani
May 16
3 min read

If you’ve been relying on your product, pricing, or pedigree to stand out in today’s crowded marketplace — you’re already playing a losing game.

In this hyper-connected digital age, people don’t just buy products. They buy stories. They buy people. And if you are not the face of your brand, someone else is owning your space.

For decades, we were taught to hide behind a logo, pitch deck, or business card. We believed a great product would speak for itself. But the market has changed drastically. Today, your personal brand is no longer a luxury — it is your most monetizable asset.

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If your name isn’t building trust at scale, you’re just one scroll away from being forgotten.

Here’s the truth no one talks about: the most talented people are not always the most successful. The most visible ones are.

Clients don’t chase quality; they chase confidence. And confidence is built when your reputation walks into the room before you do. That’s the power of a well-crafted personal brand. It makes you memorable, desirable, and credible — without having to constantly justify your value.

In the past 11 years, I’ve worked with startup founders, family-run businesses, CXOs, and solo professionals. The pattern is consistent. They begin with strong services but weak positioning. Once they refine their presence, polish their communication, and align their image — everything shifts. They become the go-to name in their space. Their credibility multiplies. And yes, so does their revenue — often by 5x.

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So ask yourself these hard-hitting questions:

• Do people instantly understand what you do?

• Does your online presence build trust or create confusion?

• Would someone pay a premium to work specifically with you, even if others offer similar services?

If you hesitated, you already know there’s a gap. But it’s not a gap in your potential — it’s in your positioning. Your business will never outgrow your personal brand. And the best way to unlock the next level of growth is to audit your current presence.

That’s why I’ve created a free personal brand audit checklist — a one-page tool that will help you identify what’s working, what’s missing, and where your untapped revenue lies.

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Let this article be the turning point — when you stopped waiting to be discovered and started being impossible to ignore.

Remember, it’s not about becoming famous. It’s about becoming undeniably valuable in your field. Because people don’t pay the best. They pay the best-known.

Divyaa Advaani International Personal Branding Mentor Empowering Business Owners to Elevate Their Visibility and Authentic Connections Through Personal Branding ► Corporate Trainer ►Founder of two brands

Follow: @suaveu6 on Instagram | Divyaa Advaani on LinkedIn | @suaveu on YouTube DM or comment the word Audit to get your free personal brand checklist

(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

2 Comments

Anil Varma

May 18

Audit

Anil Varma

May 18

Well said