Maoists Severely Weakened After Top Leaders Killed; Only 3 Politburo Members Left: Report
Last Updated:
In recent months, security forces have intensified their operations against the Maoists, eliminating high-profile leaders like Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju.
The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has been severely weakened after a string of major setbacks, as the strength of its top leadership bodies has been significantly depleted since the peak of the insurgency in the 2000s, following the killings of its top leaders and daily surrenders.
Security forces gunned down top Naxal commander, Bhaskar, in the National Park area of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh last week. The deceased Naxal had a bounty of Rs 45 lakh on him.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the CPI(M)'s Politburo, its highest decision-making body, has sunk from 11-12 members in the 2000s to just three: Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Thippiri Thirupathi alias Devuji, and Misir Besra alias Sagar. The Central Committee of the Maoists has also shrunk from 42 in 2007-08 to just 17.
Security Forces Step Up Anti-Maoist Ops
In recent months, security forces have intensified their operations against the Maoists, focusing on high-ranking leaders. Last month, the forces successfully eliminated Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, a top Maoist leader.
This was the first time in over three decades that the fountain-head of the Naxal movement – of General Secretary rank – was killed by the Chhattisgarh Police's District Reserve Guard (DRG).
On June 6, senior Maoist leader Narasimha Chalam, alias Sudhakar, who had a bounty of Rs 40 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the same area, said police. The 67-year-old hailed from Andhra Pradesh.
Sudhakar was one of the most influential figures in the group after Basavaraju, according to authorities. He was studying to become an Ayurveda doctor in Vijayawada when he was recruited by a Maoist outfit. He was involved in the indoctrination and radicalisation of youth and was also responsible for numerous Naxal attacks.
Indian security forces have recorded close to 300 Maoist (Naxalite) casualties in just the first 150 days of 2025 – marking the most significant annual toll since 2009, and the fastest pace of Maoist elimination since the peak of the insurgency. Hundreds of Maoist cadres have also surrendered to security forces.
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
25 minutes ago
- News18
Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Now Eyeing Navy? Decoding His Anti-India Speech
Last Updated: Asim Munir speech: 'He aims to expand his influence significantly, leveraging anti-India rhetoric to consolidate power. It is a wake-up call for Pakistani politicians," sources say Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's recent speech in Karachi, which aimed to stir anti-India sentiment to gain popularity among other forces, shows his frustration, according to top intelligence sources. His remarks seemed to be an attempt to assert Pakistan's stance on continuing proxy warfare in Kashmir while trying to secure control over the Navy through anti-India rhetoric, they said. 'The context for Munir's speech stemmed from India's aborted Karachi strike, which showcased India's capability for strong diplomacy through maritime dominance. This display of power forced Pakistan to de-escalate," sources said. ' Munir's ambitions are much broader, posing a wake-up call for Pakistani politicians. He aims to expand his influence significantly, leveraging anti-India rhetoric to consolidate power," they said. ASIM MUNIR SPEECH SHOWS FRUSTRATION OVER INDIAN NAVY POSITIONING: SOURCES Sources say that the Indian Navy has positioned itself strategically, 260 miles off Karachi, targeting critical assets such as warships, dry docks, and port infrastructure vital to Pakistan's economy. This port handles 60% of Pakistan's trade, making it a significant economic hub. 'The inability of Pakistan's navy to counter India's strategic positioning forced Islamabad to urgently seek a ceasefire on May 10. This move underscored Pakistan's conventional weaknesses, as exposed by Operation Sindoor. The aborted Karachi strike serves as a stark reminder of India's enhanced military thresholds and capabilities," they said. Munir's speech at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. His relative and defence minister Mohsin Naqvi stood by his side as India was issued repeated challenges by Munir. The field marshal called for a return to the Pakistan of 1979, a time when mosques and cinemas coexisted, and 'India's entire system of life was under Pakistani control". He criticised weak diplomacy, stating that India 'benefited from deceit" while Pakistan missed opportunities to engage with the world. He emphasised the unity of the political and military leadership, describing them as one body and soul. He noted growing impatience among Pakistani soldiers to confront India. While acknowledging significant support from China, he stressed that Pakistan has its own resources and highlighted efforts to strengthen the economy. First Published: June 29, 2025, 12:37 IST
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru auto overcharging row: Transport Minister slams app-based 'loot', vows permit cancellations for 'daylight robbery'
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has directed the Transport Commissioner to take strict action against autorickshaws in Bengaluru, including those operating via mobile apps, for charging passengers more than the government-fixed fares. He called the practice 'daylight robbery' in a letter dated June 28. The minister said that if any autorickshaw driver is found overcharging or cancelling rides when commuters refuse to pay extra, their permit should be cancelled and a police case should be registered immediately. Citing specific examples, Reddy referred to fare data from June 18. 'Rapido Auto App charged Rs 100.89 per km, while Auto O App charged Rs 184.19 for a 4 km ride,' he said, calling this 'unforgivable'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo As per government rules, the official meter fare in Karnataka is Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 for each additional kilometre. However, complaints about overcharging and ride refusals have continued to flood in, the minister added. Reddy said that although the Transport Department has taken action earlier, tougher and more effective steps are now needed. He also attached commuter-provided screenshots as evidence and asked the department to create a detailed action plan. Live Events 'It has been directed to immediately prepare an effective action plan to protect the public and take stern action against auto drivers and owners found guilty,' he said. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trade fallout: India's ban on Pakistan-origin cargo at ports triggers spike in freight costs, delays for Islamabad
Representative image India's ban on ships carrying goods originating in or exported from Pakistan has led to a sharp rise in freight charges and longer shipping times for Pakistani importers, Dawn newspaper reported, citing industry officials. The ban, imposed on May 2, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack, prohibits both direct and indirect movement of Pakistani goods through Indian ports. As per news agency PTI, this comprehensive restriction has not only impacted maritime logistics but also prompted intensified enforcement by Indian agencies to detect violations. 'Mother vessels are not coming to Pakistan due to this Indian action, which delays our imports by 30 to 50 days,' said Javed Bilwani, president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in comments reported by Dawn. He said importers now rely on feeder vessels, resulting in increased transportation costs. Exporters, too, confirmed a spike in logistics expenses, especially in insurance costs. 'There is no significant impact on exports, except for a rise in insurance costs. Shipping charges had already gone up even before the escalation,' said Aamir Aziz, a textile exporter, as cited in the Dawn report. Pakistan's export sector, which heavily depends on imported raw materials for value addition, now faces added operational difficulties. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo With Islamabad already restricting non-essential imports to manage its forex reserves, supply chain disruptions caused by the Indian ban carry broader economic implications. The Indian government's stance has been reinforced through multiple enforcement drives. In one such action, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched 'Operation Deep Manifest' to target illegal imports of Pakistani goods routed through third countries like the UAE. The finance ministry said that so far, 39 containers carrying over 1,100 metric tonnes of goods valued at Rs 9 crore have been seized under the operation. These goods were falsely declared as UAE-origin but were found to have originated from Pakistan, transshipped via Dubai. The DRI discovered money trails and financial links connecting Indian importers with Pakistani entities, and arrested one of the partners of a trading firm involved in the operation. According to the ministry, this complex modus operandi was designed to obscure the true origin of the goods using a web of intermediaries in Pakistan and the UAE. The crackdown is part of broader national security operations such as 'Operation Sindoor', aimed at tightening border trade oversight in response to regional threats. India had already raised import duties on Pakistani goods to 200% after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. Since then, formal trade relations have remained frozen. Bilateral trade between the two countries dropped from $2.41 billion in 2018 to just $1.2 billion in 2024, as per PTI. Pakistan's exports to India declined sharply from $547.5 million in 2019 to only $480,000 last year. The government maintains that the trade restrictions are critical to safeguarding India's national and economic security and preventing misuse of trade channels. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
