Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
STATE Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil showered praises on Gadchiroli Police for gunning down 13 dreaded Naxalites during a fierce gun-battle at Paydi-Kotmi forest in Etapalli on Friday. Recalling a strange coincidence, Patil said the elimination of 13 Naxals came on the same day when 15 policemen had attained martyrdom in Gadchiroli 12 years ago.
“On May 21, 2009, our 15 policemen were martyred in a Naxal attack. After 12 years, the Gadchiroli police have avenged their deaths and killed 13 Naxals on the same day,” said Patil.
Interacting with mediapersons at Nagpur, Patil said that the encounter took place on the Anti-Terrorism Day which proves upper hand of police in Gadchiroli. “I have congratulated the officials and jawans of Gadchiroli Police for the achievement, he said.
Patil visited Gadchiroli on Friday morning and took stock of anti-Naxal operations and situation after the gun-battle. He went upto Katejhari post which is located deep in the jungle.
On the issue of ongoing problems in Maharashtra Police, Patil opined that some incidents in the department had brought shame for the entire force and created atmosphere of distrust. “As a police officer, one should show one’s loyalty to the government. It will clear the current atmosphere of distrust,” he said.
After taking reins of State Home Department, Patil had marked Naxalism as a major challenge. He resolved to solve the problem by intensifying anti-Naxal operations. Similarly, welfare, housing, cyber crimes and vacant posts were the important issues in his opinion.
“Housing problem for policemen needs to be solved and an important decision will be taken soon. The Cabinet has given its nod for major recruitment of policemen and around three lakh applications have been received. Examination has not been conducted due to the outbreak of COVID-19,” Patil said.
The Home Minister also held a meeting of top ranked police officials of Nagpur at Police Gymkhana. He said, body offences were the major challenge in Nagpur city and Nagpur Police were doing well in tackling the problem. He also resolved to contain the graph of crime against woman.
On the issue of assistance of Rs 1,000 crore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for immediate relief activities in cyclone Tauktae-hit Gujarat State, the HM said that same devastation took place in Maharashtra due to the Cyclone. “We hoped that the Centre would take cognisance and give assistance.”
Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar was present in the press conference.
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