A top leader of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), Nambala Keshavrao, also known as Basavaraju, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Abujhmad forests of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The operation is considered a major victory for security forces in their efforts to combat Maoist insurgency in the region.

Basavaraju, who carried a reward of ₹2.02 crore, was the General Secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist) and was considered the most influential figure in the outfit. His death is a significant blow to the Maoist movement, especially as he was seen as the key planner behind deadly Maoist attacks across India.

The encounter took place in a remote Maoist stronghold situated between Narayanpur and Bijapur districts. Reports indicate that the encounter broke out when Maoists fired upon a team of District Reserve Guards (DRG) during an operation in the Abhujmad area, acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of senior Maoist cadres. In addition to Basavaraju, 26 other Maoists were killed in the exchange of fire. A police supporter also lost their life, and one jawan sustained injuries.

This marks the first time in the CPI (Maoist)'s history of over four decades that its topmost leader has been killed in an encounter. Senior government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have lauded the security forces for this success. Amit Shah described it as a "landmark achievement" in the battle against Naxalism, noting that it was the first time a General Secretary-ranked leader had been neutralized.

Basavaraju held several key positions within the CPI (Maoist), including head of the party's central military commission, member of the central committee, and politburo member. He was allegedly involved in several deadly attacks, including the 2010 landmine attack on a CRPF contingent in Chintalnar, Chhattisgarh, which resulted in the death of 75 personnel, and the 2013 ambush of a Congress convoy in Jhiram Ghati, where several senior party leaders were killed.

The operation in Abujhmad follows another major operation by security forces in the Karregutta hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border where 31 Maoists were killed. These encounters indicate intensified efforts by security forces to clamp down on Maoist activities in the region. Combing operations are still underway in the area.