In a significant stride towards reclaiming peace and enabling progress, a new armed police post was inaugurated on Friday at Tumarkoti, located at the foothills of the once-impenetrable Maoist headquarters of the Abujhmad hills in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. This forward operating base (FOB) symbolizes a decisive shift from a violent past to a future focused on connectivity and comprehensive development.
A Strategic Leap for Security and Connectivity
The establishment of the Tumarkoti post is a direct outcome of relentless counter-insurgency operations by the Gadchiroli police. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neelotpal, who inaugurated the post alongside senior officials including Additional DG (Operations) Cherring Dorje and IG Sandip Patil, highlighted that a weakened Maoist insurgency has finally allowed security forces to penetrate these erstwhile no-go zones. The post was made operational within 24 hours with the support of over 1,000 C-60 commandos and paramilitary forces.
This strategic move plugs a critical security vacuum spanning more than 200 square kilometres, providing a permanent security presence for villages like Bidsi, Toynar, Maraknar, and Murumbushi, which have a combined population of approximately 1,100 people. The area, long used as a Maoist transit route leveraging the Parlkota River as a natural barrier, is now under control following the earlier opening of FOB Fulnar on November 23 this year.
From Fear to Opportunity: The Development Promise
The immediate impact of the enhanced security is tangible. For the inauguration itself, authorities swiftly constructed 5 kilometres of road and a 50-metre nala crossing. Previously, Maoist terror had left roads unfinished and prevented Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses from venturing beyond Murumbushi.
Now operational, the Tumarkoti post is set to be the catalyst for sustained infrastructure growth. It will spur connectivity via the crucial Gatta–Jambiya hill route, facilitating the construction of permanent roads and bridges. Officials assert that with security firmly entrenched, infrastructure can finally flourish safely. "The post heralds economic growth, turning a land of fear into one of opportunity," stated SSP Neelotpal. These roads and bridges will link isolated tribal communities to essential services like markets, healthcare, and education, while also unlocking access to electricity, water, and various government welfare schemes.
Confronting a Violent Past
The Tumarkoti region carries the scars of a dark and violent history. It has been the site of three fierce firefights between security forces and Maoists. In a chilling incident on December 29, 2022, Maoists from Company No. 10, Gatta Dalam, and Bhamragad Dalam brutally murdered village police patil Gisa Masu Mattami (45). The insurgents had also repeatedly targeted development works, setting tractors ablaze and hijacking JCB machines from road contractors in the area.
The influence of the insurgency was profound, with three local youths from adjoining areas joining Maoist dalams. Notably, two of them, Sameer alias Sadhu Lingu Mohanda and Jaya alias Shanti Masu Matami, have since surrendered, while the third fled to a neighbouring district. The Tumarkoti post is the ninth such armed outpost established since 2023, underscoring a sustained and successful strategy to restore state authority and peace in Gadchiroli.
The inauguration of this forward operating base is more than just a security milestone; it represents the dawn of a new era for the region's residents, where the sound of construction promises to permanently replace the echo of gunfire.
