Balrampur (Chhattisgarh) [India]: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday reaffirmed the Union Government’s commitment to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, following a significant security operation in the Narayanpur-Abujhmad region that resulted in the killing of 27 Naxals, including top CPI-Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju.
Speaking to reporters, CM Sai said:
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have pledged to bring an end to Naxalism by March 31, 2026. The ongoing operation in Narayanpur-Abujmarh is a major success — 27 Naxals have been killed, many of them carrying bounties. One of the top leaders, Basavaraju, has been neutralised by our jawans.”
Operation Black Forest: A Turning Point in Anti-Naxal Strategy
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), called the killing of Basavaraju a “landmark achievement” in India’s three-decade battle against Naxalism.
“This is the first time in three decades of Bharat’s battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised,” Shah wrote.
Shah revealed that 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 have surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra since the conclusion of Operation Black Forest — a coordinated effort to dismantle insurgent networks along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
Basavaraju, regarded as the backbone of the Naxal movement, was the General Secretary of the CPI-Maoist and one of India’s most wanted fugitives.
Wider Impact and Government Response
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also praised the success of the operation, stating:
“Our security forces are working diligently to make Bastar Naxal-free by March 2026. Over two dozen Naxalites have been killed in this encounter in Narayanpur.”
The operation took place near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, a known Naxal stronghold. One security personnel was reportedly injured during the encounter.
Background: A Region Long Plagued by Insurgency
The Abujhmad forests of Narayanpur and surrounding Bastar region have historically served as a stronghold for Naxalite insurgents, who operate through a decentralized command structure and frequently target government infrastructure, security forces, and civilians.
India’s multi-agency counter-insurgency efforts, involving state police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and elite Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA), have intensified since 2019, with several major operations being launched under the current government’s zero-tolerance approach toward Left-Wing Extremism.
Conclusion
The killing of Basavaraju, considered a mastermind of various deadly attacks and a key ideological strategist of the Maoist insurgency, marks a significant milestone in India’s anti-Naxal campaign.
With a clearly stated target date of March 31, 2026, the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government have reiterated their joint resolve to eradicate Naxalism from its last remaining strongholds in central India.