Maoist Leader With Rs 1.5 Crore Bounty Among 27 Killed In Chhattisgarh

In a significant setback to the CPI (Maoist), a top Naxal commander, Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraj, who carried a bounty of Rs 1.5 crore on his head, was killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh.

He was one of the 27 Naxals killed in the encounter, which was part of Operation Kagar, a mission targeting Maoist strongholds.

Several senior-level Maoist cadres have either been killed or seriously injured in the operation.

Who is Nambala Keshav Rao?

Nambala Keshav Rao, who served as the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist), was previously the head of the group's Central Military Commission (CMC).

Rao, originally from the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, had joined the movement during his student years in Warangal.

He was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Telangana police, and Andhra Pradesh police.

About the Encounter

The encounter occurred early Wednesday morning between District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans and Naxals in the dense forests of Abujhmad, located in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.

The offensive was launched based on intelligence inputs regarding Central Committee and Politburo members of the Naxals, as well as senior cadres from the Maad Division and the PLGA. DRG teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon were dispatched to Abujhmad for the operation.

The Abujhmad region in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, has long been a center of Naxal violence. 

One DRG team member was martyred during the operation, and few other personnel were injured in the gunfight. The injured personnel received immediate medical attention and are now out of danger.

During the operation, multiple modern weapons, including AK-47 rifles and explosives, were seized from the Maoists.

The operation is still ongoing, with security forces combing the area for any remaining insurgents.

Proud of Our Forces: PM Modi 

In a post on his X handle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the Indian forces for the success of this operation, while replying to a post by Home Minister Amit Shah on this “landmark achievement”.

“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,” he stated.

Landmark Achievement in Battle to Eliminate Naxalism: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralized 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement. This is the first time in three decades of Bharat's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralized by our forces.”

"I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough. Also glad to share that after completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026," he said.

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