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Hyderabad, Aug 10 (PTI) For the first time in 50 years, a team of various government departments on Monday visited Karreguttalu (KG Hills), a dense forest area spread across Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, once a Maoist stronghold, Telangana DGP CV Anand said.
Anand hoisted the national flag in the area and also released white doves as a symbol of peace on the occassion, an official release said.
“For the first time in 50 years, a team of officials from the Police, CRPF, Forest, Revenue and other government departments visited Karreguttalu area that was a Maoist den once,” the DGP told reporters.
Earlier, specialized anti-maoist forces like Greyhounds and CoBRA used to conduct precision operations, in Karreguttalu and returned to their bases, he said.
Anand, who inspected the ongoing road construction works in the area, said peace has been restored to the region and it would now be developed with tourism and basic infrastructure.
“It is a day to remember. The visit of government officials is a signal of development and a step forward,” he said.
Anand said coordinated operations by the Telangana Police, Greyhounds, (an elite anti-Naxal force of Telangana Police), Special Police Forces, CRPF, CoBRA units and Chhattisgarh Police had significantly weakened Maoist activities in the region.
He noted that nearly 700 Maoists have surrendered during the ‘Operation Kagar’, while several top leaders were neutralised in encounters and others had returned to the mainstream. Only a handful of central committee (CC) members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) leaders remain active across the country.
According to him, the state government was implementing rehabilitation measures for surrendered Maoists, including financial assistance, land allotment and livelihood opportunities, while ensuring continuous monitoring to facilitate their reintegration into society.
In a post on ‘X’, Anand said : “Over the past year, under Operation Kagar, the Govt of India along with Telangana, Chhattisgarh and other state forces have achieved decisive results, several Central Committee members neutralised in encounters or surrendered and large numbers of senior cadre laying down arms. Over 1,000 weapons have been surrendered to police forces to date. ” For the last six months, the once inaccessible area has been steadily opening up. A road has now been laid, paving the way for development activities to begin, he added.
Karreguttalu, with its waterfalls and scenic terrain has considerable tourism potential, offering opportunities not just for visitors but employment for surrendered cadre settled in surrounding villages.
Anand said the government intends to develop the area in accordance with environmental and legal norms.
At an altitude of nearly 650 meters, the surrounding hills once Naxal-occupied now stand vacated with CRPF forward operating bases established there, the DGP said.
“Development is progressing on both the Chhattisgarh and Telangana sides. We are confident that, over time, this region will see the return of normalcy and with it, sustained economic and social development,” he said in the post.
The senior official said the tar road work from Pamuru to Chalamadava has been completed, and works to lay the BT road will be taken up shortly.
With this, road connectivity is being improved and blacktopping will be taken up shortly. Facilities such as electricity, mobile connectivity and other basic infrastructure will also be created to promote tourism.
During the visit, the DGP distributed essential commodities to Gutti Koya families residing near the Pamuru camp and assured them of continued government support.
He also commended the services of the CRPF, noting that its personnel have been working alongside state police forces for decades in anti-Maoist operations, the release added. PTI VVK SJR VVK ROH
