Top CPI (Maoist) leader Basavaraj among 27 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh encounter
New Delhi, May 21: Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist) and the topmost figure in the Naxalite insurgency, was killed along with 26 other Naxals in a major anti-Naxal operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh. This marks the most significant strike against the Naxal leadership in over 30 years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the development in a post on X, calling it a “landmark achievement” and applauding the efforts of the security forces.
“Landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement,” Amit Shah posted. “This is the first time in three decades of Bharat's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralied by our forces. I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough,” he added.
Amit Shah also highlighted the broader success of Operation Black Forest, noting: “Glad to share that after completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.” The Home Minister reiterated the Modi government's goal to eliminate Naxalism completely by March 31, 2026.
Basavaraju, a native of Andhra Pradesh, had taken over the top post of the CPI (Maoist) in 2018 after the reported death of his predecessor, Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi. Known for his tactical acumen and deep ideological roots, Basavaraju was the principal strategist behind several high-casualty ambushes on security forces and was the most wanted Naxalite in the country with Rs One crore as bounties on his head.
The operation that led to his death was the culmination of months of coordinated intelligence gathering and ground action by elite anti-Naxal units of the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police. Security officials said the encounter site has yielded significant material, including arms, communication devices, and key documents. The CPI (Maoist) insurgency, which once engulfed over 200 districts across Red Corridor, has seen a marked decline over the past decade. Government figures show that violence linked to Maoists is now limited to less than dozen districts, with sustained operations and developmental outreach reducing their footprint. With the neutralization of Basavaraju, officials say the Maoist chain of command has been broken, potentially paving the way for a final dismantling of the insurgency.
