National News

CPI Condemns Modi Govt For Eliminating Dreaded Naxal

May 22, 2025
The Commune

In a shocking display of support for a banned extremist group, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has publicly denounced the recent anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh that resulted in the death of Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju—the General Secretary and top commander of the CPI (Maoist), an organisation officially designated as a terrorist group by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since 22 June 2009.

On 21 May, security forces carried out a high-stakes mission, codenamed Operation Kagar, in the dense Abujhmad forests of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district. The operation culminated in the elimination of Basavaraju, who had a bounty of ₹1.5 crore on his head and was considered the mastermind behind some of the most brutal Maoist attacks in the country. His death is being viewed by security agencies as a critical success in the fight against the decades-long insurgency.

However, instead of supporting the action, the CPI condemned the encounter, describing it as a “cold-blooded killing” and an example of unlawful state conduct.

CPI General Secretary D. Raja released a statement on 21 May, asserting, “CPI strongly condemns the cold-blooded killing of a senior Maoist leader along with several Adivasis in Chhattisgarh. It is yet another instance of extrajudicial action carried out under the guise of counterinsurgency operations. The repeated use of lethal force instead of lawful arrest raises serious concerns about the State’s commitment to democratic norms and the rule of law. If the authorities had credible intelligence about the whereabouts of the leader, why was a legal arrest not pursued? Why was due process—guaranteed by the Constitution—so blatantly ignored. These killings not only point to a dangerous pattern of State violence but also expose the ongoing marginalisation of Adivasi communities in the region. Time and again, these communities are caught in the crossfire of a conflict they did not initiate, and are treated as collateral in operations marked by impunity. CPI demands an independent judicial inquiry into this episode and the entire Operation Kagar. The people of Chhattisgarh—and India at large—deserve to know the truth.  A democratic society cannot allow the State to become the judge, jury, and executioner. Justice must be served, and the dignity and rights of Adivasi lives must be upheld. CPI calls upon all democratic and progressive forces to raise their voices against this injustice and stand in solidarity with the people of Chhattisgarh.”

Who Was Basavaraju, Also Known as “The Red Commander”?

Born in 1955 in the village of Jiyannapet in Andhra Pradesh, Nambala Keshava Rao, popularly known as Basavaraju, was an engineering graduate from NIT Warangal. Despite his academic background, he joined the People’s War Group in the early 1980s, immersing himself in the armed Maoist movement.

In 1987, he is believed to have undergone guerrilla warfare training with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), a skillset he would later use to orchestrate deadly IED attacks across Maoist-affected regions in India.

Basavaraju was reportedly the mastermind behind several major attacks, including:

  • The 2010 Dantewada massacre, where 76 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest Maoist attacks in India.
  • The 2013 Jeeram Ghati ambush, which resulted in 27 deaths, including senior Congress leaders.
  • The 2003 Alipiri bomb attack, an unsuccessful attempt on the life of then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

In 2018, he rose to the position of General Secretary of the CPI (Maoist) after the retirement of Ganapathy (Muppala Lakshmana Rao), assuming the role of both ideological leader and tactical strategist. For years, he remained underground, managing operations and evading law enforcement.

Operation Kagar

‘Operation Kagar’ was the codename for a coordinated assault aimed at top Maoist commanders operating in the forested belt connecting Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. Following sustained intelligence tracking, the operation was launched on May 19 by joint units of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Special Task Force (STF), and the CRPF.

Over the course of a 50-hour gunbattle, more than 30 Maoists were killed, including Basavaraju. Security personnel seized a large stockpile of weapons, ammunition, and strategic Maoist documents, signaling a critical blow to the insurgents’ infrastructure and leadership.

Among those neutralized were high-ranking figures from the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) and the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA). Authorities are continuing to search the area for survivors and additional rebel hideouts.

The encounter, while successful, came at a cost. One DRG personnel lost his life in the operation. His body was later recovered and brought back to the district headquarters.

Despite harsh terrain and well-armed resistance, state and central forces remained determined to dislodge Maoist presence from Abujhmad, considered one of the group’s last strongholds in central India.

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