Sat Jun 28 07:52:38 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, summarizing the key points:

**The Hindu: Maharashtra Reverses Course, Declares Gadchiroli and Parts of Gondia “Naxal-Infested”**

**Mumbai, Maharashtra – June 28, 2025** – In a surprising reversal, the Maharashtra government has declared the entire Gadchiroli district and four taluks in Gondia as “Naxal-infested,” despite earlier claims by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that parts of Gadchiroli were free of Maoist activity.

A Government Resolution (GR) issued on Friday, June 27, 2025, officially designated Gadchiroli district and the Gondia taluks of Gondia, Salekasa, Devri, and Arjuni Morgaon as affected by Maoist influence. The declaration, according to the GR, is based on the Central Government’s list of Maoist-affected areas.

This announcement contradicts statements made by Chief Minister Fadnavis in January, following the felicitation of C60 commandos. At that time, he asserted that Maharashtra would soon be free of Maoists, citing a rise in surrenders and the movement’s failure to attract new recruits. He further claimed that north Gadchiroli was already free of Maoist activity, and south Gadchiroli would soon follow, with the Gadchiroli Police nearly eradicating Naxal activities in the district.

Fadnavis had previously stated the government’s goal was to make Gadchiroli the first district to eliminate Maoist dominance. The recent GR raises questions about the progress made in combating Maoist influence in the region and casts doubt on the timeline for eradicating it.

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