‘I Sowed The Seeds, My Successors Grew The Tree’: C-60 Founder KP Raghuvanshi On Maharashtra’s Maoism-Free Milestone
Mumbai: When Maharashtra was declared ‘Maoism-free’ on October 1, KP Raghuvanshi’s face was lit with a sense of pride. The now retired IPS officer felt that it was the moment to be cherished for a long time to come. After all, his brainchild ‘C-60’, a dedicated force for armed combat against the naxals in Gadchiroli district, had played a major role in achieving the success. ‘Tree Has Borne…
In a momentous announcement made on October 1, Maharashtra declared itself free from Maoist influence. The achievement was attributed largely to the efforts of KP Raghuvanshi, a retired IPS officer who founded the C-60 force to combat the naxal threat. Raghuvanshi, who served as Superintendent of Police in Gadchiroli district, recognized the issue's complexity and the need for local cooperation.
After learning that development efforts were thwarted by naxals' obstruction, he established C-60 to engage local youths in the fight against the Maoists. The force comprised 100 members, each stationed in Gadchiroli and Aheri. Its first significant achievement came in 1992 when they successfully apprehended Dalam commander Santosh.
Over the years, C-60 has garnered more than 300 gallantry medals, including Shaurya Chakra and Police medals, as a testament to its enduring success.
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