Gadchiroli, the 'Favourite District' of Devendra Fadnavis, Sees Decline in Maoism, Increase in Mining https://thewire.in/politics/gadchiroli-the-favourite-district-of-devendra-fadnavis-sees-decline-in-maoism-increase-in-mining by Santoshi Markam
Vinod Mandavi, an activist with the Adivasi Vikas Parishad of Potegaon, accused the Gadchiroli collector of fabricating gram sabha documents in 2010, to falsely demonstrate public consent for mining. Allegations suggest that such counterfeit gram sabha documents were produced with the assistance of village gram sevaks in Damakondawahi, located in the Bande area of the Etapalli block.
In 2023, the police forcefully shut down the peaceful dharna organized by tribal members from over 70 villages, which had persisted for about eight months in opposition to the Surjagarh mining. The protest against the mine in Todgatta lasted for 255 days in 2023, People were forcibly removed from the area, huts were vandalised, and 21 individuals – including women – were detained. They faced false charges and were held in Chandrapur jail for 17-18 days before being released on bail.