Latest news with #NambalaKeshavRao
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Two women Maoists killed in Narayanpur
At least two Maoists, both women, have been killed in an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur, said the police on Thursday (June 26, 2025). Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P Sundarraj said that the operation was carried out in the Abujhmad area after the police received a tip off about the presence of a big cadre of Maoists' Maad division. The operation was carried out jointly by District Reserve Guards Narayanpur and Kondagaon and Special Task Force, he added. 'Bodies of two female Maoists recovered in an encounter between Naxalites and DRG STF joint force last evening [June 25],' said the IG. Since January 2024, more than 400 Maoists have been gunned down by security forces in separate encounters in the State. Among the major encounters was the one in which CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju (70) was killed on May 21, also in Narayanpur district. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said during his recently concluded Chhattisgarh trip that anti Naxal operations would continue in monsoon this year.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Electronic devices of slain top Maoist leader being examined
A host of personal electronic devices of slain top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, are currently being examined by cyber forensics experts in Delhi, people familiar with the matter said, adding the investigating agencies hope to extract information pertaining to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), its arms suppliers, financiers, as well as future planning. Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju Basavaraju, 70, the former general secretary of CPI (Maoist), was among the 27 ultras killed in an encounter with security forces in the Abhujhmad jungles of Chhattisgarh on May 21. Officials said that encrypted devices belonging to the top Maoist — a phone, a hard disk and a laptop — recovered near the encounter site are being decoded at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in the national Capital. 'These devices are being examined by cyber forensics experts for extracting the content and we believe they will have valuable information about the operations, network, arms suppliers, etc,' P Sundarraj, inspector general of Bastar Range, said. Another officer requesting anonymity said the electronic devices of Basavaraju, who was the topmost Maoist leader for decades and brain behind planning all major attacks since 2003, 'are sure to give us leads about the CPI (Maoist) organisation and its operations which we may have not obtained earlier'. Basavaraju believed that Maoists can achieve their goals only through armed resistance and hence maintained links with the arms dealers, both within India and abroad, as well as planned the funding, recruitment and established contact with other similar organisations or 'anti-India elements' supporting their cause, the officer said. 'To dismantle the entire Maoist network, we need information available with the top Maoist leadership and that is what we believe will find in Basavaraju's devices. The information such as names and contact details of arms suppliers, network of cadres in various districts, hideouts of senior leadership, details of those in cities who mobilise support for their cause, and future planning in the wake of Indian government's aim to end left wing extremism by March 2026 will help us prepare better,' the officer added. The top Maoist, who was guarded by at least 25 cadre on the day of encounter, had a cumulative reward of ₹ 1.5 crore on his head and was charged in several cases, including the 2003 claymore mine attack on then Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri in Tirupati. He was also the mastermind of the April 2010 Chintalnar massacre in which Maoists ambushed CRPF personnel returning from patrol and killed 74 soldiers. Meanwhile, Union home minister Amit Shah during a two-day trip to Chhattisgarh is learnt to have told the security forces to focus on identifying the ideologues of Maoists in cities, other than just ending the armed rebellion, the second officer cited above said. Shah also inquired about the status of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into funding of Maoists. According to the ministry of home affairs data, while the country witnessed a total of 16,463 Maoist attacks between 2004 and 2014, it came down 53% to 7,744 over the next decade. In these incidents, the number of deaths of security forces came down from 1,851 (2004-14) to 509 (2014-24) while civilian deaths also came down 70% from 4,766 to 1,495 during the period. During 2019 to 2025, the central forces, in collaboration with state police, have established a total of 320 camps in LWE-affected states, including 68 night-landing helipads. Besides, the number of fortified police stations, which was 66 in 2014, has now increased to around 620.
News18
09-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
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:
Deccan Herald
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Big success in fight against Naxalism: Top ultra Sudhakar gunned down in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
The killing of Sudhakar, a member of the Maoists' Central Committee, comes a fortnight after CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju (70) was neutralised by security forces in the Bastar region, dealing a severe blow to the banned outfit.
Hans India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
High-Value Naxal Commander Eliminated In Chhattisgarh Anti-Insurgency Operation
Security forces achieved a significant victory in India's ongoing counter-insurgency campaign with the elimination of a high-ranking Naxal commander carrying a substantial bounty on his head. The successful operation unfolded in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, marking another decisive blow against Maoist insurgency in the region. Central Committee member Sudhakar, a most-wanted Naxal leader with a Rs 40 lakh reward for his capture, was neutralized during an intense firefight with joint security forces on Thursday. The encounter occurred in the strategically important National Park area, where actionable intelligence had pinpointed the presence of senior Maoist cadres. A coordinated team comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and Special Task Force (STF) operatives launched the precision operation in the densely forested terrain. The confrontation began in the early morning hours and continued as security forces engaged the armed insurgents in sustained combat. This elimination represents the latest success in a series of major anti-Naxal operations that have significantly weakened the insurgent leadership structure. The operation follows the May neutralization of Nambala Keshav Rao, also known as Basavaraju, a top-tier Maoist leader who carried an unprecedented Rs 1.5 crore bounty. Nambala Keshav Rao's elimination was particularly significant as he served as general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and had been instrumental in the Naxalite movement since the late 1970s. His death occurred during a comprehensive joint operation in the Abujhmad forests, where 30 Naxals were neutralized in what authorities described as a landmark achievement. Union Home Minister Amit Shah characterized these operations as pivotal moments in India's three-decade battle against Naxalism, noting that the elimination of a general secretary-ranked leader represented an unprecedented breakthrough for security forces. The momentum of these successful operations appears to be influencing rank-and-file insurgents, as evidenced by the recent surrender of 16 Naxalites in Sukma district. The surrendering cadres, including six with collective rewards totaling Rs 25 lakh, cited disillusionment with Maoist ideology and concern over atrocities against local tribal populations as reasons for their decision to abandon the insurgency. These developments signal a potentially transformative phase in India's counter-insurgency efforts, with security forces demonstrating enhanced operational capabilities in dismantling the Naxal command structure while simultaneously creating conditions for voluntary surrenders among lower-level operatives.
