Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Gadchiroli Declared Naxal-Free, but C-60 Should Remain
Gadchiroli has been declared free of Naxal violence, but former police officer Krishipal Raghuvanshi says a special police force should stay active.
He started C-60 in 1990 to fight Maoist groups in the area.
The force recruited local tribal people and learned jungle-fighting skills from Andhra Pradesh's Greyhounds.
It grew from 60 commandos to 961 personnel in 29 teams.
The article credits C-60 with killing and arresting Maoists and encouraging many to surrender.
Some people question whether the force is still needed now that the movement in Maharashtra has effectively ended.
Raghuvanshi says some people still believe in the ideology and violence could return.
The conflict also cost the lives of hundreds of police personnel and civilians.
Krishipal Raghuvanshi, who founded C-60 in 1990, says the commando force should not be disbanded.
C-60 began with 60 on-call commandos recruited from local tribal communities and grew to 29 teams with 961 personnel.
The force is credited with killing 363 Maoists, arresting 558 and securing the surrender of 861.
The article says surrenders by several prominent Maoists earlier this year effectively ended the Maoist movement in Maharashtra.
The conflict killed 244 police personnel and 609 civilians; Raghuvanshi warns violence could return.
- Who
- Krishipal Raghuvanshi, founder of the C-60 commando force, and C-60 personnel.
- What
- Raghuvanshi argues C-60 should remain in place despite Gadchiroli being declared Naxal-free.
- When
- C-60 was established in December 1990; Gadchiroli was declared Naxal-free earlier this year.
- Where
- Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra.
- Why
- Raghuvanshi says some people still support the ideology and violence could resurface.
Keep C-60
Question its continued relevance
Whether the force should continue
Keep C-60
Raghuvanshi says C-60 should not be disbanded because some people still believe in the ideology and violence could return.
Question its continued relevance
Some people question whether the elite force remains relevant now that Gadchiroli has been declared Naxal-free.
- Force founded
- December 1990 by then Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Krishipal Raghuvanshi.
- Current reported size
- 29 teams with 961 personnel.
- Maoists killed
- 363, according to the article.
- Maoists arrested
- 558, according to the article.
- Naxal surrenders
- 861, according to the article.
- Police personnel killed
- 244.
- Civilians killed
- 609.