The Inspector General (IG) of Police, Bastar Range, P Sundarraj, on Thursday said that CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj, who was killed in an encounter on Wednesday, had played a key role in orchestrating Naxalite violence for over four decades, including more than 200 attacks on security personnel and public representatives.
“CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj, who was killed in the encounter, was active in Naxalite activities for the last 40-45 years...He was involved in more than 200 Naxalite activities,” Sundarraj said.
Basavraj, a B.Tech graduate from Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, had been serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Maoists’ Central Military Commission (CMC) and was later elevated to the position of general secretary of the banned outfit.
“In the last two to three years, he had been the general secretary of CPI (Maoist). In many attacks against the members of the security forces and elected representatives, he had an active role in the conspiracy and planning. He hails from Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam district, and was around 70 years old. He was a B.Tech graduate. We are collecting more information on him and other Maoists killed in the operation,” the IG said.
Sundarraj confirmed that the body of Basavraj was among the 27 Naxals recovered following a major encounter in the dense Abujhmad forests of Narayanpur. “A total of 27 bodies of Naxalites, including CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj, have been recovered in an encounter between security forces and Naxalites in the forest area of Abujhmad in Narayanpur... Ammunition and weapons have also been recovered from the encounter site. The search operation is underway,” he said.
Also read: Top Maoist leader Basavraj killed in Chhattisgarh encounter
“The security forces carried out this operation very tactically, which resulted in the death of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj... This is a great achievement for the security forces... Peace and normalcy will be restored in the area, and the people of the country hope that Naxalism will be eradicated. Peace and normalcy will prevail in the area,” he added.
Security personnel recovered a significant cache of arms including AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS carbines, and other sophisticated weaponry. The gunbattle also claimed the life of one jawan from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), while several others sustained injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the forces’ success in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “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,” he posted.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah underlined the significance of the operation, stating that it marked the first time in three decades of counter-Naxal operations that a general secretary-ranked Maoist leader had been neutralised.
Calling Basavraj “the backbone of the Naxal movement,” Shah said, “54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, after the completion of Operation Black Forest.”
The encounter marks one of the most decisive setbacks to the Maoist insurgency in recent years, and a blow to the command structure of the CPI (Maoist).
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