Nagpur: Devendra Fadnavis made history as the first chief minister of Maharashtra to visit the Abujmarh foothills, previously a Maoist stronghold. He arrived in Kawande, a remote village on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, which had been under Maoist control until recently.
The area now signifies a shift towards mainstream governance following the dismantling of Maoist infrastructure. During the visit, he oversaw the surrender of 12 high-value Maoists and called for remaining guerrillas to abandon violence.
Fadnavis participated in a collective wedding ceremony for 13 former Maoists, marking their reintegration into society. Security experts credited the mass surrenders to the effective anti-Naxalite measures implemented in Gadchiroli, including rapid establishment of police outposts.
He announced a target to eradicate Naxalism by March 2026, attributing progress to additional support from the Centre and local law enforcement. To enhance security, Fadnavis allocated 19 vehicles to the police and equipped commandos with advanced weapons.
In 18 months, 28 Maoists have been neutralised, with 31 arrests and 44 surrenders. Fadnavis also inspected a new bridge over Korma Nala, budgeted at ₹10.7 crore, to improve connectivity with Chhattisgarh. Engaging with locals, he distributed benefits from various welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM Awas Yojana, reinforcing the government’s commitment to community welfare in transformed areas.
