"I congratulate all the jawans": Bhupesh Baghel after 27 Maoists, including top CPI-Maoist leader Basavaraju killed in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi [India], May 21 (ANI): Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday congratulated security forces for the successful operation in Narayanpur, where 27 Naxals were killed in an encounter, including top CPI-Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju.
He also paid tribute to the jawan who lost his life in the operation, while highlighting past efforts by his government to make 600 villages Naxal-free.
Speaking to ANI, Bhupesh Baghel said, "27 naxals have been killed and one jawan has also been martyred during the encounter. I congratulate all the jawans for this huge operational success. I pray for the soul of the departed jawan and offer condolences to his family... When we were in government, 600 villages were made naxal-free. We instilled confidence among the people and gave them land rights, waived their loans, and even got them their lands back. The operations going on right now are in the remaining areas, be it Abujmarh, Narayanpur, or Bijapur."
Congress leader TS Singh Deo stated that this is a huge achievement for a region full of forests and with a scarce population.
Speaking to ANI, TS Singh Deo said, "This is a huge achievement for a region that is full of forests and population scarce... It was a hub of naxals... When this operation has been conducted in such an inaccessible area, it can be said that it has reached a level where major action can be taken... I have received information from reliable sources that one of their major leaders has been neutralised... This has been said since 2020, after which the Union Home Minister started making claims on it..."
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, general secretary of CPI-Maoist, in an operation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district and lauded the major breakthrough.
In a post on X, he said this is the first time in three decades of India's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralized by the security forces.
Noting that Basavaraju was the backbone of the Naxal movement, Amit Shah said 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, after the completion of Operation Black Forest.
Amit Shah said the Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before March 31 next year.
"A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement," he said in a post on X.
"This is the first time in three decades of Bharat's battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by our forces. I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough. Also glad to share that after the completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Naxalites have been arrested and 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The Modi government is resolved to eliminate Naxalism before the March 31. 2026," he added.
Earlier today, an encounter broke out between security forces and Naxals in the forest area of Abujhmad in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao has asserted that security forces are working "diligently" to make Bastar Naxal-free by March 2026.
"After the formation of our government in the state, a programme is running to make Bastar Naxal-free. In Narayanpur, more than two dozen Naxalites have been killed in an encounter. Our security forces are working diligently so that by March 2026, Bastar becomes Naxal-free," Arun Sao told ANI.
Deputy CM confirmed that one soldier was injured during the encounter.
Security forces conducted 'Operation Black Forest' to break the backbone of Naxals near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. (ANI)