Overview

• Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI (Maoist), was killed along with 26 others in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad jungles on May 21, 2025.
• The operation was launched based on intelligence gathered from surrendered Maoists, pinpointing Basavaraju's location near Boter village in Narayanpur district.
• Among the 27 killed, 25 were members of the PLGA's Company 7, tasked with Basavaraju's protection; a significant cache of weapons, including AK-47s and rocket launchers, was recovered.
• Basavaraju, who carried a bounty of Rs 3.25 crore, was a key strategist behind major Maoist attacks, including the 2010 Dantewada massacre and the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush.
• The government has framed this operation as a decisive step towards its goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 2026, with ongoing operations targeting remaining Maoist cadres.