Chhattisgarh’s District Reserve Guards (DRG) killed top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basvaraju and 26 others in a major anti-Naxal operation. The 72-hour-long encounter took place in the dense forests of Abujhmarh in the Bastar region.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the success on X. “Our forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Basvaraju, the general secretary of CPI (Maoist). This is a landmark victory in the fight against Naxalism,” he wrote.
Police confirmed Basvaraju’s identity after several surrendered Maoists identified his body. “It’s him. We got him,” said a senior SP. Officials explained that high-profile identifications require careful verification, including DNA tests if needed.
The operation followed 15 days of intense planning. Police gathered intelligence from Andhra Pradesh police and surrendered Maoists. They tracked Basvaraju to Orchha in Abujhmarh, about 60 km from Narayanpur and 300 km from Raipur.
Basvaraju was hiding with other Politburo and Central Committee members. Hardcore PLGA and Marh Division cadres guarded their camp. DRG teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon launched the strike based on precise inputs.
Gunfights broke out 15–20 km from Orchha. Maoists retreated by Wednesday. “We recovered 27 Naxalite bodies and many weapons,” said Bastar Range IG P. Sundarraj. “One DRG jawan was martyred. Some personnel sustained injuries but are stable now.”
Massive Blow to Naxalism
Basvaraju carried a bounty of ₹1.5 crore. Police called this the biggest encounter in Abujhmarh. “We believe many senior Maoists are either dead or seriously injured,” an officer said. Troops will take another day to return due to the difficult terrain.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the DRG’s role. “Our forces are advancing with full commitment despite difficult conditions,” he said. “This is a historic day. We got the No.1 Maoist.” He confirmed the operation’s success and mourned the martyred jawan.
Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said, “The operation lasted 72 hours and shows the strength of our forces.”
Amit Shah also said 54 Naxals have been arrested and 84 have surrendered under Operation Black Forest. He reaffirmed the Modi government’s goal to eliminate Naxalism by 31 March 2026.
About DRG:
The Chhattisgarh government formed the District Reserve Guards in May 2015. It initially operated in Sukma, Dantewada, and Bijapur, and later expanded to Mungeli, Rajnandgaon, Kabirdham, and Narayanpur. The DRG comprises local youth and surrendered Maoists. The unit leads many frontline anti-Naxal missions.
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