Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand on Monday, 10 August visited Karregutta — once a formidable Maoist stronghold along the Telangana–Chhattisgarh–Odisha tri-border — and hoisted the National Flag, marking what officials described as a historic turning point after five decades of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the region.

Significance of the Visit

The DGP's presence at Karregutta, deep in remote forest terrain, carries strong symbolic weight. Anand released white doves as a gesture of peace and inspected ongoing road construction works in the area. Senior officials from the Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Forest, Revenue, and Tourism departments accompanied him, signalling a coordinated shift from counter-insurgency operations to development-led governance.

How Peace Was Restored

Addressing the media, DGP Anand credited coordinated operations by the Telangana Police, Greyhounds, Special Police Forces, CRPF, CoBRA units, and Chhattisgarh Police for significantly weakening Maoist activity in the region. He said nearly 700 Maoists had surrendered during Operation Kagar, while several top leaders were killed in encounters and others returned to the mainstream. Only a handful of Central Committee leaders, he noted, remain active across the country.

This comes amid a broader national trend of declining LWE influence, with the Union Home Ministry reporting a sharp reduction in Maoist-affected districts over the past decade. Karregutta's transformation is among the most visible markers of that shift.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration

The State Government is implementing rehabilitation measures for surrendered Maoists, including financial assistance, land allotment, and livelihood opportunities, alongside continuous monitoring to support their reintegration into society. During the visit, Anand also distributed essential commodities to Gutti Koya families residing near the Pamuru camp and assured them of continued government support.

Infrastructure and Tourism Plans

With peace restored, the government intends to develop Karregutta as a tourism destination, in accordance with environmental and legal norms. The tar road from Pamuru to Chalamadava has been completed, and blacktopping work is expected to begin shortly. Plans are also in place to extend electricity, mobile connectivity, and other basic infrastructure to the area.

Tribute to Security Forces

DGP Anand commended the role of CRPF personnel, noting that CRPF 196 Battalion troops have served in difficult terrain for months at a stretch, away from their families. He said their commitment and professionalism have been vital to restoring peace in the region.

Among those present were Additional DGP Sanjay Jain, IG Chandra Shekhar Reddy, Intelligence IG Karthikeya, SIB SP Sindhu Sharma, Mulugu Collector Borkade Hemanth Sahadeorao, Mulugu SP Sudhir Ramnath Kekan, District Forest Officer Vikas Meena, and officials from the Revenue and Tourism departments. With development now on the agenda, Karregutta's next chapter will test whether the peace dividend reaches the forest communities that bore the brunt of decades of conflict.