Page 190 - Sanidhya 2025

KARREGUTTA A story of human
grit, technology’s
grace, and the

THE HILL THAT DID NOT BOW galvanization of
governance....

In 2006, the Indian state faced one of its gravest internal security threats -
left-wing extremism. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh called it “the single
biggest internal threat to the nation,” and his words echoed across the dense Tadmetla became a painful symbol—
not of defeat, but of the unyielding
forests of Bastar, where the Maoist insurgency had entrenched itself deeply. In sacrifice made in the line of duty. It
the heart of this battlefield stood a formidable natural fortress - Karregutta marked a turning point that forced
Hills—a high ground of immense strategic importance. For years, it remained the state to rethink its approach,
under Maoist control, not just as a tactical vantage point but as a symbol of eventually leading to better training,
their psychological dominance over the region.
coordination, technology use, and
long-term counterinsurgency
On 6th April 2010, the forests of Tadmetla witnessed one of the darkest days planning.
in CRPF’s history. In a meticulously planned ambush by Maoists, 76 security
personnel, mostly from the 62nd Battalion of CRPF, were martyred. The sheer The Central Reserve Police Force
scale of the loss sent shockwaves across the nation. It was a brutal reminder (CRPF), battling against both an
of the evolving threat and the need for strategic recalibration. invisible enemy and an unforgiving
jungle, began to alter the narrative
slowly but surely. By 2012/13, a
landmark was achieved with the
establishment of the Sarkeguda
Forward Operating Base (FOB)—the
first permanent CRPF post beyond
the Talperu River, deep inside Maoist
strongholds. Sarkeguda became
more than an operating base; it was
a foothold for the state in denied
territory. It symbolized a shift from
reaction to initiative. From here,
roads were laid, medical camps
conducted, and governance began
to flow where only fear had ruled.