NEW DELHI: Top CPI(Maoist) leader Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju -- the mastermind behind deadly Maoist attacks including the 2010 ambush killing of 75 CRPF personnel and the 2013 Jheeram Ghati massacre involving senior state Congress leaders -- was killed in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday in an intelligence-based operation by the state police's district reserve guard (DRG) wing.
Announcing the "landmark achievement" in the battle to eliminate Naxalism, home minister Amit Shah posted on X: "Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists , including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement".
Shah further posted: "This is the first time in three decades of Bharat's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by our forces. I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough."
Basavraj, aged around 68 years, was CPI(Maoist) general secretary and member of its Politburo, Central committee and the Central Military Commission. He hailed from Jiyannapeta in Srikakulam district of Telangana and had done engineering from the Regional Engineering College, Warangal. Basavraj carried a Rs 1 crore bounty on his head, declared by NIA and various state govt including Chhattisgarh govt. Known by several aliases — Ganganna, Gaganna, Prakash, Krishna, Vijay, Basavaraju, BR, Umesh, Raju, Darapu and Narasimha — Keshava Rao had taken over the reins of CPI(Maoist) from Ganapathy in 2017-18 after the latter stepped back due to age and unspecified ailments. Basavaraju was a potent combination of a technical brain and an extremely violent disposition.
The latest anti-Naxal operation in Abujmaad region -- involving DRG units from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Kondagaon and Bijapur districts -- follows days after successful completion of the largest ever, 21-day Operation Black Forest in Karreguttalu Hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Operation Black Forest by the CRPF, Chhattisgarh police and other Central and state forces had neutralised 31 Maoists and led to the recovery of a huge cache of weapons and other Naxal supplies.
The home minister on Wednesday shared that after the completion of 21-day Operation Black Forest on May 11, 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. "The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026," he posted.
According to Chhattisgarh police, several encounters were undertaken and recoveries made during the Narayanpur operation, which was on for the past three days. Around 7 am on Wednesday, a fresh encounter broke out between the Maoists and DRG personnel in Boter village and the jungles of Lekawada, leading to neutralisation of 27 Naxalites including Basavaraju. There was a massive haul of modern weapons, ammunition and explosives. One DRG personnel was martyred while confronting the Naxals.
Sources indicated that other senior Naxal leaders and wanted cadres may be among those neutralised in the operation. Their identities are being ascertained.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai was quick to commend the courage and determination of the security personnel involved in the Narayanpur operation. He stated, “Our brave soldiers have been standing firm for three days, facing extremely challenging terrain with unmatched dedication and bravery. This fight is not just against Naxals but in favor of peace and development. The entire state salutes their spirit.”
The search operation is still underway.
Announcing the "landmark achievement" in the battle to eliminate Naxalism, home minister Amit Shah posted on X: "Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists , including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement".
Shah further posted: "This is the first time in three decades of Bharat's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by our forces. I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough."
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…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 21, 2025
Basavraj, aged around 68 years, was CPI(Maoist) general secretary and member of its Politburo, Central committee and the Central Military Commission. He hailed from Jiyannapeta in Srikakulam district of Telangana and had done engineering from the Regional Engineering College, Warangal. Basavraj carried a Rs 1 crore bounty on his head, declared by NIA and various state govt including Chhattisgarh govt. Known by several aliases — Ganganna, Gaganna, Prakash, Krishna, Vijay, Basavaraju, BR, Umesh, Raju, Darapu and Narasimha — Keshava Rao had taken over the reins of CPI(Maoist) from Ganapathy in 2017-18 after the latter stepped back due to age and unspecified ailments. Basavaraju was a potent combination of a technical brain and an extremely violent disposition.
The latest anti-Naxal operation in Abujmaad region -- involving DRG units from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Kondagaon and Bijapur districts -- follows days after successful completion of the largest ever, 21-day Operation Black Forest in Karreguttalu Hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Operation Black Forest by the CRPF, Chhattisgarh police and other Central and state forces had neutralised 31 Maoists and led to the recovery of a huge cache of weapons and other Naxal supplies.
The home minister on Wednesday shared that after the completion of 21-day Operation Black Forest on May 11, 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. "The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026," he posted.
According to Chhattisgarh police, several encounters were undertaken and recoveries made during the Narayanpur operation, which was on for the past three days. Around 7 am on Wednesday, a fresh encounter broke out between the Maoists and DRG personnel in Boter village and the jungles of Lekawada, leading to neutralisation of 27 Naxalites including Basavaraju. There was a massive haul of modern weapons, ammunition and explosives. One DRG personnel was martyred while confronting the Naxals.
Sources indicated that other senior Naxal leaders and wanted cadres may be among those neutralised in the operation. Their identities are being ascertained.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai was quick to commend the courage and determination of the security personnel involved in the Narayanpur operation. He stated, “Our brave soldiers have been standing firm for three days, facing extremely challenging terrain with unmatched dedication and bravery. This fight is not just against Naxals but in favor of peace and development. The entire state salutes their spirit.”
The search operation is still underway.
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