Top CPI (Maoist) leader Nambala Keshavrao alias Basavaraju is likely among the 27 Maoists who have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, according to sources. The encounter has been continuing since around 50 hours along the Narayanpur-Bijapur border.
The encounter began after District Reserve Guard’s jawans from four districts of Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Kondagaon were out on an operation in the Abujhmad area, following intelligence inputs on the presence of senior cadres of the Maad division of Maoists.
Basavaraju was formerly the head of the Central Military Commission and later became the General Secretary, the highest position in the Maoist hierarchy. He was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and police forces in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and a bounty of Rs 1.5 crore had been placed on him. Officials say his death is a major blow to insurgency in the region, potentially disrupting Maoist leadership and regrouping efforts.
Madhu, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee leader, was also killed, per sources.
Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Arun Sao confirmed the success of the operation and said that the state is committed to become Maoist-free by March 2026. “I congratulate Union Home Minister Amit Shah and (Chhattisgarh home minister) Vijay Sharma and all our forces that they are conducting operations in temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. The people of Bastar wants peace and development,” he added.
The encounter comes a month after security forces undertook the ‘Operation Black Forest’ to combat Maoist presence near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
During the 21-day-long operation, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police neutralised 31 Maoists carrying a reward of Rs 1.72 crore. 214 Maoist hideouts and bunkers were destroyed, Improvised Explosive Devices, BGL shells, detonators and explosive material were seized and nearly 12,000 kilograms of food supplies were also recovered.
Earlier this week, 24 Maoists, including 14 with a combined bounty of Rs 28.50 lakh on their heads, surrendered in the Bijapur district.
