Hyderabad: Security forces have neutralized 27 Naxalites, including Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraj, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). This operation took place in the dense forests of Abujhmarh, Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. Basavaraj, who had been on the National Investigation Agency’s most-wanted list, assumed leadership of the CPI (Maoist) in November 2018 following the resignation of his predecessor, Muppala Lakshmana Rao. His death is considered a substantial setback to the ultras in the country.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the operation as a landmark achievement, emphasizing that it is the first time in three decades that a General Secretary-ranked leader of the CPI (Maoist) has been neutralized by Indian forces. He commended the bravery and dedication of the security personnel involved in the operation.
The operation, known as ‘Operation Black Forest,’ commenced on April 21, 2025, and concluded on May 11, 2025. Over the course of 21 days, security forces from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Task Force (STF), and District Reserve Guard (DRG), engaged in extensive operations across the region. The operation led to the neutralization of 31 Maoists, the dismantling of a unified command center, and the destruction of four weapons manufacturing units.
In addition to the neutralizations, the operation resulted in the arrest of 54 Naxalites and the surrender of 84 individuals across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. These developments underscore the growing momentum of the government’s counter-insurgency efforts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
