Lagatar24 Desk
Narayanpur: In a major counter-insurgency breakthrough, at least 27 Maoists have been killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces along the Narayanpur-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh. Among those believed to be dead is top CPI (Maoist) leader Nambala Keshavrao alias Basavaraju, who carried a bounty of ₹1.5 crore and was one of India’s most wanted insurgents, sources said on Wednesday.
Massive joint operation in Abujhmad
The encounter, which has stretched over 50 hours, began when personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon launched a coordinated operation in the dense Abujhmad forest. The offensive followed intelligence inputs indicating the presence of senior Maoist cadres from the Maad division.
Leadership-level blow to Maoist movement
Basavaraju, formerly the head of the Maoists’ Central Military Commission and later their General Secretary, was a central figure in the group’s operations. His death is seen as a significant blow to the Maoist insurgency, potentially destabilising their leadership structure. Another key leader, Madhu of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, was also reportedly killed.
Chhattisgarh sets deadline for Maoist-free state
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao confirmed the successful operation and reiterated the state’s commitment to becoming Maoist-free by March 2026. “This is a proud moment. I congratulate Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma, and all our forces. They are conducting operations under extreme conditions, in 40 to 42°C heat. The people of Bastar want peace and development,” he said.
Part of intensified anti-Maoist strategy
This encounter follows last month’s Operation Black Forest, a 21-day-long campaign along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. That operation led to the elimination of 31 Maoists with a combined bounty of ₹1.72 crore, destruction of 214 hideouts, and the seizure of explosives and 12,000 kilograms of food supplies.
Additionally, earlier this week, 24 Maoists—14 of whom had bounties totaling ₹28.5 lakh—surrendered in Bijapur district, further weakening the insurgency’s hold in the region.
