Union Home Minister Amit Shah has praised the security forces for a major breakthrough in Chhattisgarh, where 27 Maoists were killed during an operation in the Abujhmad forest area of Narayanpur district. Among those neutralised was Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basava Raju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist and the top-most leader of the Naxal movement.
Calling it a “landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism”, Shah shared the update on his official handle, noting that this marks the first time in three decades that a general secretary-ranked Maoist has been killed in action by Indian forces.
The Union Home Minister further revealed that the recently concluded Operation Black Forest has led to the arrest of 54 Naxalites, while 84 others have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
Shah reiterated the government’s unwavering stance on Naxalism, stating that the Modi government is committed to eliminating the threat completely by March 31, 2026.
The encounter began Tuesday morning and continued through Wednesday in the dense forests of Abujhmad, on the border of Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur districts. Acting on intelligence that Basava Raju was hiding in the region, security forces launched a targeted operation. Upon arrival, the Maoists opened fire, triggering a fierce gunfight.
All 27 Maoists killed have been identified, and a large cache of weapons has been recovered from the site. One District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan was martyred during the operation.
State Home Minister Vijay Sharma called it a major success and highlighted the strategic importance of the operation. He noted that the removal of top leadership from the Maoist hierarchy is a severe blow to their operational capabilities.
Earlier, during a visit to Bastar, Amit Shah had appealed to Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream, warning that security forces would continue operations without compromise.
This successful mission signals a turning point in India’s long-standing battle against Naxal insurgency.
