27 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh; top leader Basavaraju among them

CHHATTISGARH, MAY 21 : At least 27 Naxalites were gunned down during a fierce encounter with security forces along the Narayanpur-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, in what Union Home Minister Amit Shah described as a landmark victory in India’s decades-long fight against Naxalism.

Among those killed was Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of the CPI-Maoist and the topmost leader of the Naxal movement. Announcing the development on X, Shah said this was the first time in over 30 years that a general secretary-ranked Maoist leader had been neutralised by security forces.

The operation also claimed the life of a District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel, while several others were injured, reported PTI.

The encounter occurred in the dense forested region of Abhujmad, a well-known Naxalite stronghold that lies at the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts. The gunfight erupted after Maoists ambushed joint teams of DRG personnel from Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Kanker districts.

Acting on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of senior Maoist cadres from the outfit’s ‘Mad’ division, security forces launched a large-scale combing operation deep inside Abhujmad two days ago. As forces approached the Maoist hideout, the rebels opened indiscriminate fire. In the retaliatory exchange, more than two dozen Maoists were killed, a senior police officer told PTI. A cache of weapons and other materials was also recovered from the site.

Home Minister Shah lauded the bravery of the forces, calling the development a “major breakthrough.” He added that with the completion of Operation Black Forest, a total of 54 Naxals have been arrested and 84 others have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

 “The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026,” Shah said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the encounter, calling it a significant achievement by the security forces.

Reacting to the development on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “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.”

Basavaraju, believed to be in his late 60s, was regarded as the ideological and operational backbone of the CPI-Maoist. Wednesday’s operation was part of a continuing offensive involving multiple DRG teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon districts, targeting key central committee and politburo members of the Maoist outfit, as well as PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) operatives.

The gunfight broke out in the dense forested Abhujmad region following a large-scale anti-Naxal operation launched by the state police, officials said.

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The Communist Party of India (CPI) demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of 27 Maoists.

Taking to X, CPI general secretary D Raja criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement of the operation’s success, questioning the circumstances surrounding the encounter. Shah had hailed the killing of Basavaraju as a landmark moment in India’s decades-long fight against Naxalism, calling him the “backbone of the Naxal movement.”

Raja, however, alleged the killing of Basavaraju, “instead of lawfully arresting him,” raised serious concerns about the State’s adherence to democratic norms and constitutional procedures.

 “The CPI strongly condemns the cold-blooded killing of the senior Maoist leader along with several Adivasis in Chhattisgarh,” Raja said. “It is yet another instance of extrajudicial action carried out under the guise of counterinsurgency operations.”

He questioned why, if authorities had credible intelligence about Basavaraju’s location, a legal arrest was not pursued. “Why was due process guaranteed by the Constitution so blatantly ignored?” he asked.

Calling for a judicial probe into both the encounter and the larger anti-Naxal operation, dubbed Operation Kagar, the CPI said the people of Chhattisgarh and India “deserve to know the truth.”

 “A democratic society cannot allow the State to become the judge, jury, and executioner,” Raja said, urging all “democratic and progressive forces” to speak out against the incident.

-PTI