Naxal recruitments are nil, says Murli

Naxal recruitments are nil, says Murli

NAGPUR: Police investigations have revealed that there was no fresh recruitment of naxals in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts.

According to inspector general of police (anti-naxal operations) Pankaj Gupta, divisional secretary of the naxal organisation Murli, who was arrested in the city last month, said that recruitment of cadres in the naxal-infested Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts has come down drastically and, in fact, in recent months, there was no new recruits.

Gupta said the the naxals were possibly looking for a support base in other anti-national groups and even individuals with certain vendetta towards the government. But within the police circles the depletion of naxal outfits in Maharashtra is being viewed as a major achievement of the government’s drive to flush out the naxals.

“The naxals have lost several of its cadre in encounters and they are finding it difficult to recruit new men. A series of government initiatives has also led to naxals losing their hold in the villages.

Despite threats, youths from the villagers are coming forward to join the police force. About 20,000 people walked in at a recent police recruitment drive in Chandrapur district,’’ Gupta said.

We seized a pen drive from Arun Feriera which contained important details regarding naxal operations and meetings of various naxal committees, he added.

TOI