In a landmark achievement for India’s internal security, Nambala Keshava Rao – widely known by his alias Basavaraju-has been killed in a high-intensity counter-insurgency operation deep within the Abujhmad forests of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district. As the General Secretary and top military strategist of the CPI (Maoist), Basavaraju was long regarded as the most dangerous and elusive Naxalite leader in the country. His elimination marks a critical turning point in India’s decades-long battle against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
The Rise and Fall of a Guerrilla Commander
Born in 1955 in Jiyannapeta village, Andhra Pradesh, Basavaraju was once a promising engineering student at the Regional Engineering College (now NIT Warangal). However, he dropped out of his M.Tech in 1984 to join the armed Maoist movement. Trained in guerrilla warfare by the LTTE in Sri Lanka, he became a specialist in jungle tactics and explosives.
Over the years, he masterminded several brutal attacks, including:
- The 2010 Dantewada ambush, killing 76 CRPF personnel
- The 2013 Jeeram Ghati massacre, where 27 people, including Congress leader Mahendra Karma, were killed
- The 2003 Alipiri blast, targeting then Andhra CM N. Chandrababu Naidu
- The 2018 killing of TDP MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and ex-MLA Siveri Soma in Araku Valley
With a bounty of ₹1.5 crore on his head, Basavaraju had long evaded capture – until now.
Inside India’s Largest Anti-Naxal Operation
The top Maoist leader was neutralized during a 24-day-long joint offensive that began on April 21, covering over 1,200 square kilometers of hostile terrain on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Led by elite units like the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CRPF, the mission included 21 encounters and the recovery of over 450 IEDs, despite extreme summer heat and dense jungle.
Security forces employed real-time drone surveillance, temporary helipads, and forward bases to monitor and strike. Key recoveries include:
- 216 Maoist hideouts destroyed
- 35+ firearms, including a sniper rifle
- 4 technical units for making IEDs and BGL shells
- Over 800 shells and nearly 900 detonator bundles seized
The Kareguttalu Hills, once considered a Maoist fortress, were completely cleared – dismantling the myth of Maoist invincibility.
National Leadership Applauds the Victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the operation a “remarkable success,” while Home Minister Amit Shah described it as a “moment of national pride.” Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a Naxal-free India by 2026.
Chhattisgarh DGP Arun Dev Gautam emphasized that this was not only a tactical win, but a psychological breakthrough. “The aura of fear surrounding the Maoists has been shattered,” he declared.
A Movement in Decline: Data Tells the Story
Recent statistics show the Maoist insurgency is rapidly losing ground:
- LWE-affected districts have dropped from 76 in 2014 to 42 in 2024
- Security force casualties fell from 88 in 2014 to 19 in 2024
- 928 Maoists surrendered in 2024 alone, with over 700 more in early 2025
- 197 insurgents neutralized in just the first four months of 2025
Even the Maoist party’s response was subdued. CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Abhay acknowledged the death of 26 cadres and unusually called for peace talks- a significant sign of internal weakness.
Development and Rehabilitation: The Twin Strategy
Alongside combative action, the government is pushing large-scale development initiatives across Maoist-hit regions. This includes the construction of:
- 320+ security camps
- 68 helipads for night landings
- New roads, mobile towers, schools, and health centers
Additionally, NIA and state intelligence agencies have targeted Maoist funding networks. Reports also condemn the continued use of child soldiers in groups like Bal Sangham and Chetna Natya Mandali.
The Final Countdown to a Naxal-Free India
With Basavaraju gone, the CPI (Maoist) leadership is in disarray. Remaining leaders are scattered across fragmented cells, lacking the structure and firepower they once commanded. Officials now aim to neutralize or rehabilitate all remaining Maoist cadres by end of 2025.
As DGP Gautam puts it: “We have reclaimed the land, restored law and order, and reignited hope. The Red Corridor is not only shrinking geographically- it is collapsing ideologically.”
Though the war on Maoism is not fully over, India has clearly entered the endgame – and the goal of a peaceful, insurgency-free nation by 2026 seems closer than ever.