Counterpunch: Gadchiroli tribals, families of violence-hit sowed C-60 seeds

The genesis of the C-60 commando unit of Gadchiroli police, that has pushed Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhounds unit to second slot when in comes to achievements against Maoists, lies in the minds of the Gadchiroli populace. This includes the villagers, journalists, constabulary and local tribals, including the families of the ones killed in Maoist violence.
In April 2018, Gadchiroli commandos had set the national benchmark by neutralizing 40 Maoists. The C-60 commandos neutralized 27 Maoists during the Mardintola encounter of November 13, which is now the second-most successful operation against the Reds in India.
According to former state top cop KP Raghuvanshi who had served as Gadchiroli police superintendent (SP) from 1990 to 1992, the district’s citizens had suggested creating a force which would fight Maoists tooth and nail at the ground level. “When every other option failed, I turned back to the people of Gadchiroli for a solution. They told me a force is required which would go on foot and take on the Maoists in the forests, and not roam around in vehicles on the roads and return without any action,” he said.
Then, towards the end of 1980s, added Raghuvanshi, the government sanctioned a Rs100 crore-worth ‘special action plan’ for tribals and the development of the backward district, but the measure did not bear fruit.
Raghuvanshi, credited to form the C-60 commando unit which was earlier called ‘Crack 60’, said some local constables volunteered to take up weapons and venture into the forest immediately to take Maoists by the horns. “It was a complex, risky situation. After speaking to the then director general of police (DGP), we decided to go ahead. The interested constables underwent training and an officer was placed as administrative in-charge for them,” the ex-top cop said. Raghuvanshi also went on to create Maharashtra’s anti-terrorist squad (ATS) subsequently, and the rest is history.
The first hand-picked lot of 100 commandos was ironically sent to the Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh for training. “I went to oversee the training of our constables and later picked two teams of 30 each, with an officer at the helm. One squad of 30 was sent to Aheri and another retained at Gadchiroli. Thus, our first squad of C-60 commandos was formed," said Raghuvanshi, who later worked in the district as additional DGP (law and order).
The C-60 commandos were specially tasked to pick inputs, collect information and strike at armed insurgents. “Earlier, officers from outside would not venture out in the night even when there was a specific input. This problem was solved as the new team was ready to strike anytime and anywhere,” Raghuvanshi said.
The subsequent SPs retained the C-60 commando unit and nurtured it into its final form even when there was no government sanction, posting or budgetary allocations, said Raghuvanshi. He acknowledged former Gadchiroli SP Rahul Gopal among others for taking up the issues of C-60 commandos with the government, to make special incentives and emoluments available to them. “The squad was formed somewhere around December 1990. The first major success came after my departure in the form of senior Maoist cadre Santosh Anna,” the former Gadchiroli SP said.
Though former state DGP Anami Roy steered clear of the controversy surrounding the incumbent DGP Sanjay Pandey not visiting Gadchiroli after the Mardintola encounter, he said leadership plays a key role in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli.
Roy said it’s imperative for leaders of the force to get thoroughly acquainted with the terrain and topography of the area, its multiple operational dimensions, logistics and human aspects — not only to appreciate an accomplishment but also to guide the field force in future operations.
The former state DGP said it is necessary to understand that the recruits who join Gadchiroli police defy the Maoist threat. “Later, they voluntarily join the C-60 commando unit and fight a battle which the state and the police force wants them to fight in the larger interest of public safety, risking their lives and social security of their families,” he said.
Roy was probably the only state top cop to visit Maoist-affected Gadchiroli first thing after taking charge and also a day before his retirement. During his first visit, Roy took along a number of officers who had the experience of working in Gadchiroli in different capacities earlier, to gain insights from their experiences and assimilate their suggestions for developing operational plans.
Roy wished the best of luck to the bravehearts of Gadchiroli police, especially the C-60 commandos — many of whom he shared a bond with.
In his maiden visit to Gadchiroli, Roy, who spent four days on the ground zero to get acclimatized with the terrain and the problems, is said to have got camouflage uniforms and jungle boots like the C60 commandos for all visiting senior officers moving around with them on foot in the jungle.
Roy travelled from Gadchiroli to Aheri and from there to the last post of Maharashtra at Laheri before moving towards the sensitive Bhamragarh. The ex-DGP and his team went through the forests and visited all such places which could be of any significance from an operational and strategic point of view.
The former top cop even skipped a crucial meeting of the Election Commission once to visit the families of the martyrs after an operation. “I always felt it was necessary to visit the families of each and every martyr. We also spent time with lucky survivors in a forest fight in which all the odds are pitted against the police, as Maoist guerrillas have their vantage position,” said Roy, who later switched to non-profit work and extended help to several job aspirants from the tribal district.
Roy said the chief must motivate the commandos regularly and convince them that he will always stand by them if anything untoward ever happens to anyone. “I, as the head of the family (of the force) will take care of them and their kin. They will not be abandoned afterwards,” he said, adding that all this motivation needs to be done in flesh and blood and not just through written communication like WhatsApp.