Indian security forces have killed Maoist rebel leader Nambala Keshav Rao, also known as Basavaraju, in what officials are calling the most decisive strike in a decades-long insurgency. Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the death of Rao—general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist)—during a military operation that left 27 Maoists dead in Chhattisgarh state.

“This is the first time in three decades that a general-secretary-ranked leader has been neutralized,” Shah declared. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the operation, stating the government remains “committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress.”

Operation Kagar: A Full-Scale Offensive in Bastar

The assault is part of a broader campaign known as Operation Kagar, with over 66,000 troops, paramilitary units, and elite commandos deployed across Chhattisgarh’s mineral-rich Bastar region. At least 223 Maoists were killed in 2024, and over 200 more in 2025, according to official figures.

The forested Karrigatta hills have become the epicenter of the government’s counterinsurgency push, where army helicopters and drone surveillance support ground operations. On May 14, Shah announced the killing of 31 rebels there. The government has promised to make India “Naxal-free” by March 31, 2026.

Controversy Over Civilian Deaths and Mining Interests

However, activists and opposition parties claim that many of the dead were innocent Adivasis—Indigenous tribal people—and have accused the government of extrajudicial killings. Human rights group PUCL alleges fake encounters are being used to inflate Maoist body counts, while opposition leaders demand independent judicial inquiries.

Tribal leaders and activists also warn that the crackdown is being used to clear the way for renewed mining projects in Bastar, home to 19% of India’s iron ore reserves. “Without village council approval, mining cannot proceed. If tribals protest, they are labelled as Maoists,” said Manish Kunjam, a former legislator.

A History of Insurgency and Resistance

The Maoist rebellion began in 1967 in West Bengal’s Naxalbari and peaked in the 2000s, controlling nearly a third of India’s interior. While the movement has declined, with only 1,000 active fighters remaining according to estimates, the ideology persists amid poverty, land alienation, and state violence.