27 Maoists Killed in Major Encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar Region; Top Leader Basavaraju Suspected Among Dead
At least 27 Maoists were killed in a major encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Sources suggest that among the deceased could be Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) and one of the group’s top leaders. However, police have not yet officially confirmed his death.
A member of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a specialized unit of the state police, lost his life in the operation, while several others sustained injuries. All injured personnel have received medical attention and are in stable condition.
The encounter occurred in the dense forests of Abhujmad, located at the tri-junction of the Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts.
A senior police officer described the joint operation as a “historic success. ” It was launched two days ago following intelligence reports about the presence of senior Maoist leaders, including Politburo and Central Committee members, as well as key operatives from the Maad Division and the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).
The operation was carried out by DRG teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon districts. Security forces have so far recovered the bodies of 27 Maoists along with a significant cache of weapons from the site. The area remains cordoned off as search operations continue.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also oversees the Home Department, stated that several high-ranking Maoist cadres were believed to be among those killed in the firefight.
This latest operation brings the total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh this year to 200. Of these, 183 were neutralized in the Bastar division alone, which comprises the districts of Bijapur, Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Kondagaon.
