27 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces; top leader among them

Raipur, : At least 27 Naxalites were gunned down during a fierce encounter with security forces along the Narayanpur-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, in what Union Home Minister Amit Shah described as a landmark victory in India’s decades-long fight against Naxalism. Among those killed was Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of the CPI-Maoist and the topmost leader of the Naxal movement. Announcing the development on X, Shah said this was the first time in over 30 years that a general secretaryranked Maoist leader had been neutralised by security forces. The operation also claimed the life of a District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel, while several others were injured. The encounter occurred in the dense region of Abhujmad, a well-known Naxalite stronghold that lies at the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and
Dantewada districts. The gunfight erupted after Maoists ambushed joint teams of DRG personnel from Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Kanker
districts. Acting on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of senior Maoist cadres from the outfit’s ‘Mad’ division, security forces launched a large-scale combing operation deep inside Abhujmad two days ago. As forces approached the Maoist hideout, the rebels opened indiscriminate fire. In the
retaliatory exchange, more than two dozen Maoists were killed, a senior police officer told. A cache of weapons and other materials was also recovered
from the site. Home Minister Shah lauded the bravery of the forces, calling the development a “major breakthrough.” He added that with the completion of Black Forest, a total of 54 Naxals have been arrested and 84 others have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. “The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026,” Shah said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the encounter, calling it a significant achievement by the security forces. Reacting to the development on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Proud of our
forces for this remarkable success. Our government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for
our people.” Basavaraju, believed to be in his late 60s, was regarded as the ideological and operational backbone of the CPI-Maoist. Wednesday’s operation was part of a continuing offensive involving multiple DRG teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon districts, targeting key central committee and politburo members of the Maoist outfit, as well as PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) operatives. The Communist Party of India (CPI) demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of 27 Maoists. Taking to X, CPI general secretary D Raja criticised
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement of the operation’s success, questioning the circumstances surrounding the encounter. Shah had hailed the killing of Basavaraju as a landmark moment in India’s decadeslong fight against Naxalism, calling him the “backbone of the Naxal
movement.” Raja, however, alleged the killing of Basavaraju, “instead of lawfully arresting him,” raised serious concerns about the State’s adherence to democratic norms and constitutional procedures. “TheCPI strongly condemns the cold-blooded killing of the senior Maoist leader along with several Adivasis in Chhattisgarh,” Raja said. “It is yet another instance of extrajudicial action carried out under the guise of counterinsurgency operations.” He questioned why, if authorities had credible intelligence about Basavaraju’s location, a legal arrest was not pursued. “Why was due process guaranteed by the Constitution so blatantly ignored?” he asked.

About Post Author