The withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes by the Reserve Bank of India has reportedly dealt a blow to Naxalites, a senior police official in Maharashtra said. The official claims that Naxalites rely heavily on funds collected through extortion, and a significant portion of these funds are in the form of Rs 2,000 notes.
Deputy Inspector General, Gadchiroli range, Sandip Patil said the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes is a “setback” for Naxalites as the money extorted by them from contractors of tendu leaves and PWD is mainly in this denomination and hidden at various places in forests.
In response to the currency withdrawal, Naxalites in the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra have become active in exchanging notes. Recent incidents in neighbouring Chhattisgarh have highlighted this trend, including the arrest of two individuals found in possession of Rs 6 lakh in Rs 2,000 notes allegedly belonging to a Naxalite commander. The police in Gadchiroli are on high alert and maintaining surveillance in sensitive regions to monitor Naxalite activities and potential exchanges of the withdrawn currency.
