Indian security forces have killed at least 27 Maoist rebels, including the Communist Party of India (Maoist) General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, during a major crackdown in Chhattisgarh state.
Dubbed “Operation Kagar,” the offensive, launched on May 19, took place in the forests of the Karrigatta hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, with over 10,000 soldiers deployed.
According to authorities, Rao, one of India’s most-wanted individuals, with a ₹1.5 crore ($180,000 USD) bounty on his head, was killed in a gunfight in Narayanpur district following a tip-off. The clash also resulted in the death of one police officer.
According to India Today, the operation concluded with a 50-hour-long encounter. The news report also stated that several senior Maoist leaders from the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army were either killed or critically injured. Search operations are ongoing in the surrounding jungles to locate any wounded or fleeing rebels.
Home Minister Amit Shah noted that Rao’s death marks the first time in 30 years that such a senior Maoist leader has been killed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the operation, calling it a major success.
“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,” Modi wrote in a post 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. https://t.co/XlPku5dtnZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2025
The Maoists, also called Naxals, have waged a violent rebellion since the 1960s, claiming to fight for the rights of Indigenous people, known as Adivasis. The rebels are active in several states and control remote forest areas in what is known as the “Red Corridor.”
Rao took over as General Secretary of the group in 2018, succeeding Muppala Lakshmana Rao, also known as Ganapathy.
While violence continues in the region, the government remains determined to end the conflict. Earlier this month, Shah announced on X: “I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Naxal-free by 31 March 2026.”
In Chhattisgarh state alone, more than 400 Maoists have been killed over the past 16 months.
Clashes involving Maoist fighters between 2000 and 2024 have resulted in the deaths of over 11,000 civilians and security personnel. During the same period, security forces have killed at least 6,160 Maoist fighters, based on data from both police and Maoist sources.
