In a landmark move following India’s largest anti-Naxal operation, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said he would personally visit the Karregutta anti-Naxal operations site. Meanwhile, on Thursday, he visited Galgam, located at the Bijapur-Dantewada border, to engage with troops and strategize the next steps in the battle against left-wing extremism.
The visit comes just days after 31 high-ranking Maoists were neutralized in a decisive operation at Karregutta Hills.
Chief Minister Sai also visited the CRPF camp in Galgam, where he met security personnel, boosted troop morale, and finalized the second phase of anti-Naxal strategy with senior officials of the Central Reserve Police Force and state police units. This high-profile engagement follows what officials have called the “turning point in the fight against Maoism.”
“Karregutta was a bastion of Naxal activity. Today, it belongs to the people and the flag of India flies high,” said a top CRPF official ahead of the CM’s visit.
The Chief Minister’s direct involvement is being seen as an effort to translate military success into long-term peace and development.
Karregutta: From Red Terror to Reclaimed Territory
The Karregutta Hills, once considered an unbreachable Maoist fortress, were the site of a 21-day surgical offensive that led to the killing of 31 insurgents, including Area Committee Members (ACMs) and Divisional Committee Members (DVCMs). Security forces seized over 450 IEDs, mega sniper rifles, and heavy weaponry, including makeshift arms from four underground Naxal factories.
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The operation also led to the recovery of explosives, detonators, and 12,000 kg of material used in Naxal warfare, revealing the extent of their entrenchment.
Officials believe the recovery of sniper rifles—some of the most advanced ever produced by Maoists—points to a desperate yet weakening outfit, now on the back foot.
Development to Follow Security Gains
In the evening, CM Sai will chair a review meeting in Bijapur to assess ongoing development schemes in areas recently cleared of Maoist influence. The agenda includes:
- Road connectivity and rural infrastructure
- Educational outreach programs
- Mobile health clinics and primary care expansion
- Youth employment and skill training
- Digital communication networks
The Chief Minister emphasized that Naxalism cannot be defeated by bullets alone, and the dual-pronged approach of strong policing and inclusive development is key to restoring normalcy in tribal areas long isolated from mainstream governance.
“Security is the foundation. Development is the future,” CM Sai said in a statement released by the state government.
National Impact of Karregutta Operation
Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier hailed the Karregutta offensive as “historic”, and pledged to eradicate Maoism by March 2026. CRPF Chief GP Singh also noted that many of the 31 killed Maoists carried bounties totaling ₹1.72 crore, and termed the success as “the beginning of the end” for Maoist extremism in India.
As part of the wider strategy, central and state forces have intensified operations across Naxal-hit zones in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
