Chhattisgarh: CPI(M) Leader Basavaraju Among 27 Maoists Killed In Encounter; Carried Rs 1 Cr Bounty

At least 27 Maoists were eliminated on Wednesday in an encounter with the security forces at the Narayanpur-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh. Sources have claimed that top Maoist leader and the general secretary of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju was also among those killed in the encounter. He was heading the organisation since 2018 and was NIA바카라�s most wanted man with a reward of over Rs 1 crore.

According to reports the operation was carried out after intel that a senior Maoist leader was hiding in a specific area in Abujhmad was received, as reported by The Indian Express. The operation was carried out by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from four districts of Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Kondagaon.

The Abujhmad area entails a lot of unsurveyed land that is largely situated in Narayanpur. Some parts of the area also extend to Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker and Maharashtra바카라�s Gadchiroli district.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma claimed that, "More than 26 Naxalites, some of them probably top cadres, were killed. One supporter of the police was killed and a police jawan was injured in the action.바카라� 

The operation was carried out days after the largest anti-naxal operation was administered in Karregattalu hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The operation termed as 바카라�Operation Black Forest바카라� was called off after 21 days. The operation commenced on April 21 after receiving information that several top maoist leaders including Hidma Madvi were spotted on the Karregattalu hills. The operation led to the encounter of 31 Naxals in the area.

The operations come ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate naxalism in the country. While posting a statement on X pertaining to the anti-naxal operation along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, Shah claimed that, "I congratulate our CRPF, STF and DRG soldiers who faced the Naxalites with their bravery and courage even in bad weather and inaccessible mountainous area. The whole country is proud of you. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are determined to root out Naxalism. I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Naxal-free by 31 March 2026."  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the security forces and released a statement on X stating, "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."