In one of the most significant counterinsurgency operations in recent years, top CPI(Maoist) leader Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavraj, was killed along with an estimated 27–30 other Maoists in a joint intelligence-based operation carried out by security forces in the dense forested region of Narayanpur district.
Government sources confirmed that the operation, ongoing for the past three days, targeted a high-level Maoist gathering. Several top commanders of the banned CPI(Maoist) group are believed to be among the deceased, though official confirmation of their identities is pending. The area, located in the Maad region of Narayanpur, has long been a stronghold of Maoist activity.
Basavraj, 68, was the General Secretary of CPI(Maoist) and held key positions in the Politburo, Central Committee, and the Central Military Commission. A native of Jiyyannapeta in Srikakulam district of present-day Telangana, he held a degree in engineering from the Regional Engineering College, Warangal. Known by multiple aliases such as Gaganna, Prakash, Krishna, Vijay, Umesh, Raju, and Kamlu, he was a strategic architect of numerous deadly attacks against Indian forces and carried a reward of ₹1 crore on his head.
Basavraj had assumed leadership of CPI(Maoist) after former chief Muppala Lakshmana Rao, alias Ganapathy, stepped down due to age and illness. Under Basavraj’s leadership, the group continued to operate across Central and Eastern India, particularly in the dense jungles of Chhattisgarh.
The operation in Narayanpur comes on the heels of Operation Black Forest, a massive 21-day offensive in the Karreguttalu Hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border that resulted in the deaths of 31 Maoists and the recovery of large quantities of weapons and rebel supplies. These successive operations reflect the government’s intensified campaign against left-wing extremism, driven by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive to eliminate the Maoist threat by March 2026.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the bravery and endurance of the security forces, stating, “Our brave soldiers have stood firm for three days in extremely difficult terrain with unmatched dedication. This battle is not just against Naxal violence, but for peace, progress, and a better future for our people.”
Sources indicate that the latest encounter also led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and Maoist logistical materials. The operation was carried out with careful coordination between state police forces, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and elite COBRA units.
The success of this mission is being seen as a critical milestone in the ongoing fight against left-wing extremism in India. However, senior officials caution that the threat is not yet fully neutralized, with hundreds of active cadres believed to still be operating in forest zones across Chhattisgarh and adjoining states.
Search operations and combing efforts are still underway in the region, and authorities are expected to release an official list of the deceased once identification is complete. The security establishment believes the loss of Basavraj will cause significant disarray in the Maoist command structure, potentially triggering a leadership crisis within the insurgent ranks.
This latest development is being hailed by the central government as a validation of its aggressive and intelligence-driven counterinsurgency strategy. Further updates are awaited as the region remains under high alert and recovery operations continue.
