In a major push to strengthen counter-insurgency capabilities, the government has approved the establishment of a Jungle Warfare School at Karreguta Hills in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh—a region once considered a Maoist stronghold. The school will provide specialized training to the CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), and other security forces.
Sources confirmed that instructions have already been passed and preparations are underway. While the Centre will construct the training institute, the state government will build the approach road and ensure basic facilities.
Location of Strategic Significance
Officials emphasized the symbolic importance of Karreguta Hills, which were liberated from Maoist control during a CRPF-led operation in April 2025. The rugged terrain, once used by insurgents as a secure base, will now serve as a training ground for forces combating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
Stretching over 60 km with elevations of up to 5,000 metres, Karreguta is dotted with caves, waterfalls, and narrow valleys—features that previously housed Maoist camps and arms factories. Security officials believe training in such realistic terrain settings will significantly enhance the preparedness of personnel.
Training Modules Inspired by Operations
Sources revealed that lessons drawn from the April operation, including extensive ‘cave intervention’ tactics, will form part of the school’s curriculum. The training will focus on survival skills, ambush response, counter-IED operations, and high-altitude guerrilla combat in dense forests.
CRPF’s Expanding Role
The CRPF remains the lead force in India’s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, with around 100 battalions, including elite CoBRA units, currently deployed in LWE-affected states. The new school is expected to bolster their operational efficiency and morale in one of the most challenging theatres of internal security.
Officials hailed the move as a “turning point” in the fight against Maoist insurgency, transforming a former rebel bastion into a centre of national security training.
