Naxals face cadre crunch in Eastern Maha, wind up four dalams

NAGPUR: The naxalite movement in most affected Gadchiroli and Gondia districts in Eastern Maharashtra has weakened with some of the `dalams' operating in the area virtually winding up following a cadre crunch, police sources said.

The shrinking number of cadres has forced naxalites in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra to wind up four of its dalams including Gamini, Kotagaon, Dhanora and Jimmalgatta.

The naxal-quartet led by Murli alias Mahesh Reddy, arrested by city police on May 8, have also endorsed the intelligence inputs of the police confessing that there has been no fresh recruitment for quite a long time.

Confirming this depletion in the naxal cadre, Additional Director General of police (Anti-naxal operation), Pankaj Gupta said that in a desperate move, naxals are shifting some of their cadres from adjoining Chattisgarh.

Citing reasons behind weakening of naxal movement in Vidarbha, Gupta said the 'gaonbandi' (no entry in villages) scheme of Maharashtra government proved very effective as villagers are putting up a stiff resistance to their movement.

Besides, a number of naxals and their supporters have already surrendered to avail certain benefits including cash, while few of them are on their way to give up naxalism.

As a result of weak naxal movement in Vidarbha region, the crime graph between January 1 to May 31 this year registers a decline as compared to same period last year.

On all heads including blasts, attack on policemen, and kidnapping the number of offences have come down.

There were just five blasts this year against eight last year and number of encounters have risen from 13 to 22, Gupta said adding the increase in number of encounters justifies the presence of police in naxal dominated areas.

The number of arsons which was quite high (20) in last corresponding period has dropped to five. The overall figure on nine important heads which was 60 has come to 54 this year, Gupta added.