NEW DELHI – Jubilant scenes unfolded in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district after a major success in the fight against Left-wing extremism. Jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) celebrated in the rain with music, dancing, and vibrant colours following a high-stakes operation that left 27 Maoists dead—including CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Basavaraju, one of the most wanted figures in the insurgency.
Videos from the ground captured the moment of triumph: soaked but smiling personnel dancing, tossing colours into the air, and singing in celebration. At home, families welcomed the returning jawans with traditional arti ceremonies and chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” marking the emotional homecoming.
Basavaraju, also known as Nambala Keshava Rao, was a central strategist for the Maoist movement, reportedly responsible for coordinating numerous deadly attacks on security forces and political leaders. His death, officials say, is a major blow to the Maoist leadership and a significant victory for India’s counter-insurgency efforts.
“This is a landmark achievement in our anti-Naxal operations,” said Inspector General of Bastar Range, P Sundarraj. “Basavaraju’s elimination will leave a leadership vacuum within the Maoist ranks.”
The operation took place deep in the Abujmarh forests, long considered a Maoist bastion. Security forces recovered a cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, SLR-INSAS carbines, and a substantial amount of ammunition. However, the encounter was not without loss—one DRG jawan was martyred and several others sustained injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the forces on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing, “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.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also praised the operation, highlighting its significance: “For the first time in three decades, a Maoist leader of General Secretary rank has been neutralised. Basavaraju was the backbone of the Naxal movement.”
Shah added that since the launch of Operation Black Forest, 54 Maoists have been arrested and 84 have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, signaling a turning tide in the long-standing battle against Maoist insurgency.
