After the completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites have been arrested, and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The Union home minister also reiterated that they would eliminate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.
Hyderabad: Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "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 posted on social media, stating: “In a landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism, security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh. The 27 neutralised dreaded Maoists include Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement.”
He applauded security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough. After the completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites have been arrested, and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The Union home minister also reiterated that they would eliminate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.
Recent encounters
April 25, 2025: 25 Maoists including women were killed in an alleged encounter at Karregutta.
January 17, 2025: Top Maoist leader Bade Chokka Rao among 23 Maoists were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh
December 7, 2024: Seven Maoists were gunned down in Mulugu district of Telangana.
Important Points:
Nambala Keshav Rao was the top Maoist leader of the CPI-Maoists’ Central Committee. He was born in an educated family in Srikakulam district and his father was a government school teacher.
He was an expert in making IEDs and was the mastermind in using launchers in attacking security forces.
He took charge of the banned organisation as the secretary of the banned Maoists after Ganapathi's tenure in 2018.
He formed a military wing in the Maoists and provided training in combating security forces.
