In a significant victory against Left Wing Extremism, security forces in Chhattisgarh have neutralized a prominent Naxal leader, Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavraj, who carried a bounty of ₹1 crore, as part of a fierce encounter that reportedly left around 30 Naxals dead. The intense gun battle unfolded in the dense, forested region of Abujhmad, a known Naxal stronghold spanning parts of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts.
The operation, which commenced early on Wednesday morning, involved joint teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from multiple districts, acting on credible intelligence inputs regarding the presence of senior Naxal cadres, particularly from the Maoists’ ‘Mad’ division. As security forces advanced into the remote terrain, they were met with indiscriminate firing from Naxalites, triggering a heavy exchange of fire that continued for several hours.
Basavraj, believed to be around 70 years old, was a highly influential figure within the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organization. He succeeded Ganapathy as the General Secretary of the CPI (Maoist) in 2018 and had previously served as the head of the group’s Central Military Commission (CMC). An engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Basavraj was known for his tactical prowess, particularly in designing deadly Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and leading audacious attacks. He was the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most wanted man and was believed to have been involved in some of the deadliest Naxal attacks, including the 2010 Chintalnar ambush that killed 76 CRPF personnel and the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush targeting a Congress convoy.
The impact of Basavraj’s elimination is considered a major setback for the Naxal movement’s leadership and its ability to strategize and regroup. His death, along with a significant number of other cadres, including reportedly Madhu, a key leader of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, and Naveen from the outfit’s publication wing, ‘Jung’, is expected to severely cripple their command structure and operational capabilities.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed the casualties, stating that more than 26 Naxalites were killed, with combing operations still underway in the area. While one police “supporter” lost their life and a police jawan sustained injuries during the encounter, their condition is reported to be stable.
This successful operation follows a series of concerted anti-Naxal campaigns by security forces in Chhattisgarh. Earlier this month, “Operation Black Forest,” a 21-day-long offensive near the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, resulted in the neutralization of 31 Naxals and the destruction of numerous hideouts. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to making the region Naxal-free, with intensified efforts to clear IEDs, improve infrastructure, and restore basic services in affected areas.
The elimination of a high-value target like Basavraj marks a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against Naxalism, offering renewed hope for peace and development in the long-affected regions of Chhattisgarh.