NAGPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s plan to hit terrorism hard through demonetization seems to have dealt a blow to the nation’s internal security threat, Naxalism, too.With intelligence and security machineries on their toes as per plan, the Naxalites will find it difficult to launder their cash dumps containing several hundred crores. They cannot transfer such substantial cash from secret locations in the forest, known only to top ranking cadres, and exchange them for new currency at banks. A section of the security forces feel that Naxalites might make a desperate attempt through Jan militia supporters, front organizations working as NGOs, and even their cadres masquerading as villagers, to launder the money in banks where they have presence.Sources in the banking sector said there have been huge deposits in Gadchiroli district. The accounts which received substantial deposits are bound to be scrutinized. Inspector general of police, state Anti-Naxal Operation (ANO) cell chief Shivaji Bodkhe said close surveillance is being kept near banks and other financial institutes in Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia and Bhandara districts.“The security forces have been alerted and checks are being conducted to intercept unaccounted cash. The banking sector too has been taken into confidence to share information about suspicious deposits and questionable flow of cash into any account,” said Bodkhe.Sources in the security agencies claimed that unaccounted cash Rs1,500 crores, amassed by the Naxalites, may be left stranded as security agencies are keeping a close eye on the movements in and around the affected regions. In Central India ’s hinterlands, controlled by the Naxalites‘ Dandakaranya special zonal committee (DKSZC), it is estimated that around Rs50 crore may be at the disposal of the rebels. The cash collection from Gadchiroli, Maharashtra’s most affected part in eastern Vidarbha, which is also under DKSZC, is around Rs25-30 crores.Inspector general of police, Nagpur range, Ravindra Kadam said that the demonetization would hit urban networks of Naxals adversely. “The urban cadres depend upon their rural counterpart for monetary support, which would be affected,” he said. “Another problem for Naxalites is that most of their money is dumped in secret places, from where ferrying the cash at such short notice in such tight surveillance is not easy,” said Kadam.Security agency sources claimed that extortion from civil contractors, traders and business houses, including mining companies, get the most party funds for Naxalites. In Gadchiroli, tendu leave collection contractors and bamboo cutters share substantial amount as funds. The Naxalites also collect party funds from tribal population through a scheme ‘work-a-day’ in which the rebels claim one day wage from the workers.Superintendent of police, Gadchiroli, Abhinav Deshmukh said the problems for Naxals are a logical outcome of the demonetization process. “Police are working on inputs and also conducting checks,” he said.