Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised the efforts of the Maharashtra government to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist-affected areas of Maharashtra.
This incident took place in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra after 11 Naxalites carrying a reward of more than Rs 1 crore surrendered before the police. After this, Prime Minister Modi congratulated the local people and said that this incident will definitely increase the ‘ease of life’ and pave the way for more progress in the area.
Prime Minister Modi wrote, “I appreciate the efforts of the Government of Maharashtra to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist affected areas. This will certainly enhance the ‘ease of living’ and pave the way for even greater progress. Gadchiroli and Special congratulations to my sisters and brothers from the surrounding areas!”
On Wednesday, 11 Naxalites, including Vimla Chandra Sidam alias Tarakka, a Naxalite carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, surrendered before the police in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.
11 Naxalites, including 8 women and 3 men, surrendered at Gadchiroli Police Headquarters. There was a reward of more than Rs 1 crore on all of them. Apart from this, Chhattisgarh government had also declared reward on him.
Those who surrendered also included Dandakaranya zonal committee chief and Bhupathi’s wife Tarakka Sidam, who had been involved in Naxalism for 34 years.
The surrendered Naxalites included three division committee members, a deputy commander and two area committee members. Each of them was provided financial assistance of Rs 86 lakh for a new life. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was present at the surrender, expressed confidence that Naxalism would soon be eradicated from the state.
Chief Minister Fadnavis also visited Penagunda Police Assistance Center in Gadchiroli.
Speaking to ANI, CM Fadnavis highlighted the transformation of the Gadchiroli region, saying, “This area of Gadchiroli, where we are standing, did not even have a road and the Maoists had complete dominance here. Today, that dominance has ended. While doing so, we have created two big posts and constructed a road and bridge directly connecting to Chhattisgarh.”
He said, “In a way, after 75 years the people here will get to see state transport buses. So I believe this is a very important day. We had said that Gadchiroli will not be the last district of Maharashtra, it will be the first district of Maharashtra.” It will happen and we have started it. Now the Maoists are not getting new people here, big cadres are surrendering, so it is moving towards the end.”