Maoist leader Basavaraju, Killed in an Encounter in Chhattisgarh, Carried a Total Bounty Wxceeding ₹10 Crore
WWW.NEWSINDIAOFFICIAL.COM
New Delhi: Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju—the chief of CPI (Maoist) and the architect behind some of India’s most brutal Maoist attacks—was killed on Wednesday in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh. The state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) carried out the intelligence-led operation, which also resulted in the deaths of 26 other Maoists and the seizure of a large cache of modern weapons and explosives. One DRG personnel lost his life during the gunfight, which erupted in Boter village and the nearby Lekawada forest area.
Basavaraju, a founding member of CPI (Maoist), formed in 2004 after the merger of the People’s War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), was 70 and held top positions within the outfit, including in the politburo, central committee, and central military commission. Known for his elusive movements, he was rarely seen—mainly in the remote Abujhmarh region.
Carrying a cumulative bounty exceeding ₹10 crore, declared by the NIA and multiple state governments, Basavaraju functioned as a strategic link between the leadership and field operatives. A trained engineer from REC (now NIT) Warangal, he often participated in ambushes and was known for his focus on violent, militaristic operations. His body was found with an AK-47 rifle beside it.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the Maoist leader’s death, calling him the “backbone” of the Naxal movement. A senior intelligence official noted that the group is now “headless” and described the killing as the most significant victory against Maoists in the last quarter-century.
Despite recent losses among their ranks, Basavaraju’s death is being seen as a devastating blow to the Maoist insurgency. Shah reaffirmed the Modi government’s goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and praised the security forces for their courage. He also cited the success of Operation Black Forest, which ended on May 11, resulting in 54 arrests and 84 surrenders across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Prime Minister Modi celebrated the operation’s success and reiterated the government’s commitment to ending Maoist violence and promoting peace and development.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also commended the operation and predicted a wave of new surrenders. The DRG, composed largely of former Maoists familiar with the Abujhmarh terrain and guerrilla tactics, played a key role in the mission.
Basavaraju’s operational leadership had a major influence on Maoist activities. According to former CRPF DG K. Vijay Kumar, he worked closely with Hidma, commander of the PLGA battalion No. 1, to execute deadly assaults.
Rumors of Basavaraju’s death emerged early in the day but were only confirmed after a detailed verification process. “We got him. It’s him,” said a senior officer involved in the mission.
Chhattisgarh’s Deputy CM and Home Minister Vijay Sharma shared that the operation lasted 72 hours and was the result of 15 days of planning after intelligence placed Basavaraju in the Orchha area of Abujhmarh. The input came from Andhra Pradesh police and surrendered Maoists.
Police discovered that Basavaraju was part of a high-level Maoist group camped in Abujhmarh and protected by elite PLGA cadres. Once the camp’s location was confirmed, DRG teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon districts launched a coordinated mission.
Heavy fighting erupted in the dense jungles, 15–20 km from Orchha. The operation concluded when Maoists began to retreat. Police reported that several other senior Maoist leaders were either killed or severely injured, with further details expected once the DRG teams return.
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