Telangana: Karrigutta to be developed as tourism hub, says DGP C V Anand
Mulugu, Aug 10 (TNT): Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) C V Anand on Monday said Karrigutta, once a major Maoist stronghold along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh-Odisha border, would be developed as a tourism destination with improved road connectivity and basic infrastructure.
During his visit to the remote forest region, Anand inspected ongoing road works and unfurled the national flag.
He also released white doves as a symbol of peace, marking the return of normalcy to an area affected by Left Wing Extremism for several decades.
Senior officials of the Police, CRPF, Forest, Revenue and other departments accompanied the DGP during the visit.
Addressing the media, Anand said coordinated operations by the Telangana Police, Greyhounds, special police forces, CRPF, CoBRA units and Chhattisgarh Police had considerably weakened Maoist activities in the region.
Nearly 700 Maoists had surrendered during Operation Kagar, while several senior leaders were killed in encounters and others returned to the mainstream, he said.
Only a few Central Committee-level Maoist leaders remained active in the country, Anand added.
The DGP said the state government was implementing rehabilitation measures for surrendered Maoists, including financial assistance, land allotment and livelihood opportunities, to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Anand said Karrigutta had significant tourism potential and the government would develop the area while adhering to environmental and legal norms. Road connectivity was being improved and blacktopping would be taken up shortly, while electricity, mobile connectivity and other basic amenities would also be provided.
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 appreciated the role of the CRPF in anti-Maoist operations, saying its personnel had worked alongside state police forces for decades in difficult terrain.
Anand said personnel of the CRPF’s 196 Battalion continued to serve in challenging conditions for months away from their families and their dedication and professionalism had contributed significantly to restoring peace in the region.
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, CRPF officers and officials from the Revenue, Tourism and other departments were present.
TNT KM
