At least 27 Naxalites including top leader Basavaraju killed in Bastar encounter

 Proud of our forces, says PM; Shah calls it ‘landmark achievement

PTI, Narayanpur, May 21, 2025: At least 27 Naxalites have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, officials said on Wednesday, with sources claiming that top Maoist leader Basavaraju was among them.

A member of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the state police, was also killed in action while some others sustained injuries, police said. Security forces achieved "historic success" during the encounter as a top Maoist leader was eliminated, a senior police official said, without giving more details.

Sources claimed that Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, the General Secretary of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), who was in his late 60s, was among the slain Maoists, though police did not confirm it officially.

The encounter took place in the dense forests of Abhujmad, on the tri-junction of the Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts, the senior police official said.

The operation, involving personnel of the DRG from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon, was launched two days ago based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Central Committee and Politburo members of the Maoists, as well as senior Maad Division cadres and PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) members, he said.

"So far, the bodies of 27 Naxalites and a large number of weapons have been recovered," the official said. "One DRG team member was martyred, while a few other personnel sustained injuries during the encounter. All the injured have been administered medical aid and their condition is out of danger," the official added.

The search operation was still underway, he said.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who holds the Home portfolio, said some top cadres were among the slain Naxalites.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was proud of the security forces who killed the 27 Maoists. Reacting to the development, Modi wrote on X:

"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."

Hailing the forces for their success, the Union Home Minister mentioned that this is the first time in three decades of India’s battle against Naxalism that a General Secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by the security forces.

"A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist), topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement," Shah wrote on X.

Applauding the "brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough", the Home Minister said he was glad to share that after the completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites 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," he said.

Basavaraju was in his late 60s, officials said.

The encounter took place in the dense forests of Abhujmad, on the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts, they said. The operation involving personnel of the DRG from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon was launched two days ago based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Central Committee and Politburo members of the Maoists, as well as senior Maad Division cadres and PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) members.