GADCHIROLI: Sixty-three police posts in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli, located in Dandakaranya in Red corridor, will soon start hoisting the tricolour every day, and sing national anthem twice a day, reports Soumitra Bose. The practice would start from two new frontier police posts-Wangeturi and Gardewara – at the gateway of Maoist headquarters Abujhmarh, in a challenge to the guerrillas, who have indoctrinated tribals to spurn patriotism and rebel against the state. Earlier, Maoists in Gadchiroli would damage the tricolour on Independence Day and Republic Day, and not allow tribals to sing the national anthem.
State director general of police Rashmi Shukla began practice of singing the anthem at Gardewara post, where tricolour was hoisted in her presence on Saturday.
Sixty-three police posts in Gadchiroli, the Maharashtra Maoist-affected zone in the heart of Dandakaranya in the Red corridor, will soon start hoisting the tricolour every day and sing the national anthem twice a day. The move is a challenge to the guerrillas, who have over decades indoctrinated tribals in “liberated zones” to spurn patriotism and rebel against govt.
The practice will start from two new frontier police posts – Wangeturi and Gardewara – at the gateway of Maoist headquarters Abujhmarh. Earlier, Maoists in Gadchiroli would damage the tricolour on Independence Day and Republic Day, and not allow tribals to sing the national anthem. DGP Rashmi Shukla started the practice Saturday at Gardewara, where the tricolour was hoisted in her presence.
Tribal children sang the national anthem at the post, only 5km from guerrilla hub Abujhmarh.
Shukla said the drill would be extended to other police posts. “Hoisting the tricolour and singing Jana gana mana is a practice at the DGP office, too. It should be followed elsewhere as national pride,” said Shukla, who spent two days in Gadchiroli and toured remote posts. Gadchiroli SP Neelotpal said children singing the national anthem was almost impossible in the past in remote areas.