Narayanpur: In a major success for security forces against outlawed CPI (Maoist), over two dozen Maoists were gunned down in a major encounter between a joint team of security forces and the red terrorists on May 21.
According to the preliminary reports, security forces have recovered bodies of 26 Maoists following the fierce exchange of fire that broke out in the forests of Jatloor in Abujhmad of Narayanpur district.
The operation was launched by a joint team of security personnel following inputs about presence of top Maoist leaders of the Maad division of the banned CPI (Maoist). A jawan has also sustained injuries in the operation while an associate has attained veergati.
Chhattisgarh | Encounter underway between DRG jawans and Naxals in the forest area of Abujhmad in Narayanpur, says a Police official.
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2025
Many top cadres of the banned group including top wanted Maoist leader Basavaraju alias Namabala Keshav Rao, the current General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore is believed to be killed in the gunfight, however official confirmation in this regard is still awaited. The tally of Maoists neutralised in action could surge up further. A search operation in the vicinity of the encounter site is still underway and more details about the gun battle are awaited.
Naxal Basavaraju alias Nambala Keshava Rao with 1 crore on his head, current General Secretary of Maoists believed to be eliminated in Chattisgarh encounter.
Total 34 Naxals Eliminated till now. Biggest success. Waiting for official declaration . #SurakshitBharat
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) May 21, 2025
Confirming the development, Chhattisgarh deputy CM Vijay Sharma said “more than 26 naxalites (Maoists) have been killed by the security forces. One Jawan has been injured but is out of danger. One of our associates lost his life during the operation.”
#WATCH | Kawardha | Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma says, "…More than 26 naxalites have been killed by the security forces…One Jawan has been injured but is out of danger. One of our associates lost his life during the operation…" https://t.co/PjbXzdPzUo pic.twitter.com/vgcqjwIgA5
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2025
He added that the security personnel have done a miraculous job and a search operation is being conducted at the site.
Notably 31 Maoists were killed in a three-week long operation carried out by a joint team of security personnel at Karregutta hills in Bijapur along Telangana border between April 21 to April 11.
