Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju: B.Tech Graduate-Turned-Naxal Mastermind Killed in Chhattisgarh Encounter

Bastar, Chhattisgarh — May 21, 2025: In what security officials have termed a major breakthrough in India’s decades-long battle against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) and one of the most wanted Maoist leaders in the country, was killed in a fierce encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Abhujmad forest region on Wednesday. He was among 27 Maoists eliminated in the joint operation by security forces.

A B.Tech degree holder from the Regional Engineering College, Warangal, Basavaraju’s transformation from an engineering graduate to one of India’s deadliest insurgents is both alarming and tragic. Hailing from Jiyannapeta village in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, he had been an integral part of the Naxalite movement since the 1970s, steadily rising through the ranks due to his strategic acumen and expertise in guerrilla warfare.

A Rewarded Fugitive Finally Hunted Down

Carrying a bounty of ₹1 crore on his head, Basavaraju remained elusive for decades, protected by a three-tiered security ring of heavily armed Maoist cadres. According to sources, the encounter took place after an intensive 70-hour-long combing operation in the dense forests of Abhujmad, located at the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts.

“This is perhaps the biggest success in recent years in our fight against Left-Wing Extremism,” said a senior police official involved in the operation. “Basavaraju’s death has dealt a crippling blow to the Maoist command structure.”

Mastermind Behind Deadly Attacks

Since taking over as the CPI (Maoist) General Secretary in 2018, Basavaraju masterminded several major attacks on security forces, including:

• Tekalgudem (Bijapur), 2021 – 22 security personnel killed.
• Minpa (Sukma), 2020 – 17 security personnel martyred.
• Shyamgiri (Dantewada), 2019 – BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel ambushed and killed.

Before rising to the top post, he headed the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the banned outfit, training cadres in explosives, guerrilla tactics, and landmine warfare. His command over military strategy earned him numerous aliases such as Prakash, Krishna, Vijay, Umesh, and Kamlu.

Decades in Shadows, Now Gone

Basavaraju began his militant career as a ground-level organiser in the 1970s. He joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People’s War, and by 1992 had become a Central Committee member. When the CPI (Maoist) was formed in 2004 by merging the People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), Basavaraju was already a key figure.

He succeeded Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathy in 2018, who stepped down due to age and health issues. As a Polit Bureau member, Basavaraju became the highest decision-maker within the outfit.

Security agencies estimate his age to be around 71 years, although his exact appearance remained a mystery, with only a few decades-old photographs available in intelligence records.

A New Chapter in Anti-Maoist Operations

For years, Bijapur and Sukma districts in Bastar have been the epicenters of Maoist activity. Security forces have recently intensified intelligence-based operations targeting top Maoist leadership. The recent operation was meticulously planned to eliminate the Central Committee and Polit Bureau members, and Basavaraju’s death marks the most high-profile elimination in recent history.

The forest terrain of Abhujmad, long considered a Maoist stronghold due to its inaccessibility, proved to be Basavaraju’s final hideout.

A Turning Point in the Fight Against Left-Wing Extremism

Basavaraju’s death signifies a watershed moment in India’s counter-insurgency efforts. With the loss of its top strategist, the CPI (Maoist) is expected to face a significant organizational and morale setback.

Security forces remain on high alert as combing operations continue, determined to dismantle the remaining leadership of the outlawed group and restore peace in the Red Corridor.