Naxalites fan out in eastern Maharashtra

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil and Director General of Police P S Pasricha rushed to Gondia on Wednesday, but the government’s efforts to prevent Naxal activity from spreading in the border areas of the state have been found wanting.

From across tribal-dominated Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, Naxalite presence has, over a period of time, spread to the neighbouring districts such as Gondia, Bhandara and Yavatmal. Last year, a senior leader was nabbed from Umred, 40 km from Nagpur. Several cadres were also arrested from Yavatmal and Wardha.

Casualty figures speak for the firepower acquired by the dalams. Since 1989, when violence began to be reported in Maharashtra, in Gadchiroli alone, the police have lost 64 of their men as against the 42 Naxalites eliminated in the same period.

The current year has been the most violent for the state police till date, with a toll of 14. Naxalites have also killed over 10 alleged police informers and attacked four gram panchayats in the past few months.

Government efforts to counter the menace have been limited, say activists working in remote and backward areas of Vidarbha.

Disbursements for local schemes often fail to get expedited. For instance, villages in Chandrapur are entitled to a special Rs 2 lakh development fund if the gram panchayat passes a resolution barring entry to Naxals. However, only 112 of the 230 villages which have declared ‘‘Gaonbandi’’ (no entry) have so far received the money. Police admit that the Naxalites cash in on such failures by pointing out these lapses in their pamphlets.

Police casualties

• Tekamandwa (Chandrapur) – 5 (1989)

• Tadgaon (Gadchiroli) – 10 (1991)

• Gyarapatti (Gadchiroli) – 7 (1992)

• Kishtapur (Gadchiroli) – 4 (1993)

• Mangezari (then in Bhandara, now in Gondia) – 6* (1993)

• Nainwadi-Khandi (Gadchiroli) – 5 (1997)

• Kasansur (Gadchiroli) – 5 (1998)

• Kumarguda (Gadchiroli) – 5 (2003)

•(Nine civilians had also lost their lives in the Mangezari blast)