RAIPUR, May 21: In a major counter-insurgency success, security forces killed 27 Maoists, including CPI-Maoist general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, during an intense operation in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed on Wednesday.
“This marks the first time in three decades of India’s fight against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked Maoist leader has been neutralized,” Shah said, hailing the development as a milestone in the country’s ongoing anti-Naxal campaign.
Basavaraju, believed to be in his late 60s, was the topmost figure in the CPI-Maoist hierarchy and a key strategist behind the insurgency. He had long eluded capture, remaining central to the group’s command and operations across multiple states.
The encounter took place in the dense forests of Abhujmad, located at the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts. The multi-district operation, launched two days ago, involved District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon. Intelligence reports had indicated the presence of senior central committee and politburo members, along with key cadres from the Maad division and PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army).
“Today, in Narayanpur, our brave security forces carried out a successful operation, eliminating 27 dreaded Maoists, including Basavaraju, the general secretary and backbone of the Naxal movement,” Shah posted on X.
The home minister also provided an update on Operation Black Forest, under which a total of 54 Naxals have been arrested and 84 others have surrendered in recent months across Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
“I commend the courage and determination of our security forces and agencies for this significant breakthrough,” Shah said, reaffirming the government’s commitment. “The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.”
