SOURCE: AFI
In the dense, rugged forests of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, where the threat of Naxal insurgency looms large, cutting-edge technology is transforming the battlefield. Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal, the dynamic IPS officer leading Gadchiroli’s police force, has spotlighted the game-changing role of ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV in bolstering anti-Naxal operations. In a recent statement shared on March 26, 2025, via ideaForge’s official channels, Neelotpal detailed how this indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) enhances security efforts—tracking threats, monitoring movements, and enabling precision action—particularly along the volatile Chhattisgarh border.
Gadchiroli, a district long plagued by Left-wing extremism, shares a porous frontier with Chhattisgarh, a hotspot of Naxal activity. The region’s thick forests and hilly terrain have historically provided cover for Maoist cadres, making traditional policing a daunting challenge. Under Neelotpal’s leadership since October 2022, the Gadchiroli police have adopted a multi-pronged strategy, combining tactical operations, community engagement, and now, advanced aerial surveillance. The introduction of the SWITCH UAV, developed by Mumbai-based ideaForge, marks a significant leap in this fight, offering real-time intelligence and operational agility in one of India’s most intractable conflict zones.
The SWITCH UAV, a fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone, is tailored for tactical missions in challenging environments. With its ability to hover like a quadcopter and glide like a fixed-wing aircraft, it provides unmatched endurance—up to 120 minutes—and a range of 15 kilometers. Equipped with high-resolution day and night cameras, the UAV delivers live video feeds, allowing security forces to monitor vast swathes of forestland without risking personnel in ambush-prone areas.
Neelotpal emphasized three key contributions of the SWITCH UAV in anti-Naxal operations. First, it excels at tracking threats. The UAV’s advanced imaging can detect human presence, vehicles, or suspicious activity in real time, even under dense canopy cover. This capability has proven vital in identifying Naxal camps and movements, enabling preemptive strikes. Second, it enhances monitoring movements. With Maoist cadres frequently crossing the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, the SWITCH provides continuous surveillance, mapping their routes and hideouts with precision. Finally, it facilitates precision action. By relaying accurate coordinates to ground forces like the elite C-60 commandos, the UAV ensures surgical responses, minimizing collateral damage and maximizing operational success.
The Chhattisgarh border, a corridor for Naxal logistics and reinforcements, has been a focal point of recent operations. In July 2024, Gadchiroli police neutralized 12 Naxals in Wandoli village, a strike Neelotpal hailed as rendering Uttar Gadchiroli “Naxal-free.” The SWITCH UAV’s deployment has since intensified surveillance along this frontier, thwarting attempts by groups like the Kasansur-Chatgaon and Aundhi Dalams to regroup. “The terrain here is a double-edged sword—it hides the enemy but also limits their escape once we have eyes in the sky,” Neelotpal noted, underscoring how the UAV turns geographical challenges into tactical advantages.
Since 2021, Gadchiroli police have neutralized 80 hardcore Maoists, arrested 102, and facilitated 29 surrenders, with zero police casualties since August 2020—a testament to improved strategy and technology. The SWITCH UAV has been integral to this success, supporting operations like the busting of four Naxal camps and the seizure of explosives in 2024 alone. Its quiet operation—owing to electric propulsion—ensures stealth, while its portability allows rapid deployment by small teams in remote areas.
A 2014-batch IPS officer with a B.Tech in mechanical engineering, Neelotpal has blended technical acumen with on-ground leadership. Beyond drones, his tenure has seen the establishment of five new outposts in Gadchiroli’s remotest corners, shrinking the security vacuum where Naxals once roamed freely. His community policing initiatives, like Police Dadalora Khidki and Project Udaan, have reached 6.5 lakh beneficiaries, eroding local support for Naxals and achieving zero recruitment into their ranks from Gadchiroli in three years.
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