New Delhi/IBNS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the killing of 31 Maoists at Karregutta Hill on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border this week as a part of 'India's largest anti-Maoist operation', and called it a 'historic' achievement, media reports said.

According to reports, 450 IEDs and 40 weapons have been recovered in the operation.

NDTV quoting source said a large quantity of ammunition, detonators, and explosive devices, besides 12,000kg of other materials, such as medicine and electric equipment, was also seized.

In addition, four factories producing weapons, motors, and cutters were found.

Hailing the operation, Shah said, "The hill on which the red terror once reigned, today the tricolour is flying proudly. Kurraguttalu hill was the unified headquarters of big Naxal organisations like PLGA Battalion 1, DKSZC, TSC & CRC, where along with Naxal training, strategies and weapons were also developed."

He said Karregutta Hill was once the 'unified headquarters' of major Maoist groups, and is the location where battle strategies were drawn up, weapons developed, and fighters trained.

"This largest operation was completed by our security forces in just 21 days... and I am immensely delighted there was not a single casualty among forces in this operation," the Home Minister said.

The Central Reserve Police Force and from Chhattisgarh Police's Special Task Force and District Reserve Guard took part in this operation.

Congratulating them for "facing the Maoists with courage and valour", he said, The nation is proud of you."

Speaking to reporters, CRPF chief General GP Singh said the 31 killed had a combined Rs 1.72 crore bounty, and their deaths and the recapture of Karregutta are 'the beginning of the end' for Maoism.

Twenty-eight of the bodies have been identified so far, he told reporters.

"What we set out to do... we have achieved more than that. We are confident and happy - this is the beginning of the end, and we will achieve the target of eliminating Maoism by March 31, 2026," he said, noting also that the number of dead Maoists may go up.

He pointed to the drastic decrease in 'Maoist-affected' districts - from 35 in 2024 to six this year. Nearly 1,000 Maoists surrendered in 2024... 718 so far this year, he said.

Last month, Shah called on Maoists in Chhattisgarh and other states to lay down arms and return to the mainstream.

He asked them to avail of the benefits of schemes sponsored by the federal and state governments, both of which are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party