Nagpur: Commandos who once fought Maoists in forests and difficult terrains of Gadchiroli recently took swift action to save a prematurely born girl by donating their blood.After playing a pivotal role in ending Maoist violence in the district by the March 31 deadline, security forces are now actively serving society through noble gestures. One such moment came on Aug 28, when doctors at Lloyd’s Kali Ammal Memorial Hospital in Hedri of Etapalli taluka called for urgent help.One of three premature triplets born to 32-year-old Shanta Gawde on Aug 22 immediately needed ‘O’ +ve blood. The infant girl’s platelet count had crashed. The hospital had none, said sources.The alert reached Gadchiroli superintendent of police (SP) M Ramesh. Following his intervention, Operation Cell sub-inspector Shivprasad Bandigare of the SP office and Civil Action Branch personnel Aachal Kumre came forward. The two police personnel donated two bags of matching blood and ensured it reached the NICU in time. The baby’s condition started to improve post the blood donation.Senior police officials said that for years the same commandos faced bullets, blasts and ambushes in Maoist-affected regions. “Their job was to stop Maoist violence. Many shed their blood in the conflict zone while others eliminated Maoists in encounters to neutralize threats and protect villages. That was the old war. Now, their role has changed,” said an official.SP Ramesh stressed that the commandos have been reaching out to tribals in times of emergencies, “either by providing chopper or other logistics support in remote places under extreme circumstances”. Going beyond the call of duty, police have also erected roads and nullah bridges, the SP said.Security forces, including C-60 commandos, once moved only in large groups in south Gadchiroli while the tribal lived in fear. After Operation ‘Antim Prahar’, the situation changed. SP Ramesh said there are no armed Maoist cadres left in Gadchiroli now. “Roads that once carried troops now carry ambulances. Schools stand now where bunkers and arms dumps were present. People who once feared the uniform now trust it,” said Ramesh.“When the newborn needed blood, the same force that once secured the road to Hedri, which was earlier part of the red corridor, became the supply line. Parents and hospital staff thanked the police for the timely help,” said SP Ramesh, praising the two donors for their quick response.
