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Mumbai, October 17 (IANS) Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli, once the epicenter of Maoist activity, is witnessing a slow and steady shift towards progress. More than 70 Maoists, carrying a collective reward of Rs 2.8 crore, have surrendered in the last five years.
The main reason behind their ‘return home’ is apparently their disillusionment with the Maoist ideology.
Charbhatti village of Gadchiroli, which was once a hotbed of Naxalite activity, has now turned into a Naxalite free zone. Unlike before, the Maoists no longer have any influence in the region, and common people are living life on their own terms, without any threat.
According to elderly residents here, the influence of Maoists was maximum here between 2002-2005. Arrangements for any public program or activity used to require permission from them, but now everything has changed.
A resident said, “Whether there was any small program or development work in the village, everything was done according to his ideas and orders. During that time, the name of Suresh, the divisional commander of the village, was on everyone’s lips.”
According to the villagers, “After Suresh surrendered, Naxalite activities started weakening. Today Charbhatti village has become completely Naxalite free.”
Recalling the dire situation, villagers said, “Roads, drains, schools and all government projects were blocked. Whatever work was started, the Naxalites would stop it by intimidation.”
However, with time, this ideology failed as he punished innocent people for minor crimes in the village and made false allegations against them. Due to this people became disappointed and alienated.
Another villager told IANS that an attempt was made to ban liquor in the village; However, they tried to do this through intimidation and hence failed to achieve the objective.
Villagers said, “Today, under the leadership of Tanta Mukti Samiti, the same village has become 100 percent alcohol free. The only difference is that where decisions used to be taken out of fear, now people take collective decisions with an open mind.”
Another villager shared, “Today, Naxalism does not affect our Charbhatti village. People are independent and taking their own decisions.”
A day earlier, 61 senior Naxalite cadres had surrendered before the Gadchiroli Police in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. And, it also included the Politburo member of the Central Naxalite Committee, Mallujola Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi. The cadres with a collective reward of Rs 6 crore included senior rank members like divisional committee members, area committee members.
–IANS
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