"They took training from many militant, insurgent groups": IG Bastar P Sundarraj on 27 Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh operation

Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 23 (ANI): After security forces successfully neutralised 27 Naxals, including top CPI (Maoist) leader and General Secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P Sundarraj on Friday said the banned organisation had received training and technological support from several militant and insurgent groups.
"Basavaraju was the general secretary of CPI (Maoists) and headed its military commission. He played a key role in planning and executing the group's violent operations," IG Sundarraj said.
He said that these Naxalites used to receive training from many insurgent groups, and that even the LTTE's name came up -- they shared some technologies.
"The banned and illegal Naxal organisation always has a negative thought of harming the security forces in any way, be it through IEDs, ambushes or by attacking the security forces' camps. In this way, the security forces and the villagers get harmed by negative or violent activity. They used to take training from many militant and insurgency groups - even the LTTE's name came to light, and they also shared some technology. Basava Raju was the general secretary of CPI (Maoists) and also in charge of the military commission. Hence, he had a role in all the military actions of the organisation... The whole organisation, on the back of them, has suffered losses in terms of technology and military. Their land area has also been reduced. We hope that Naxalism will end soon," he said.
He added, "With this success, the Maoists have suffered a heavy blow in leadership, military capacity, and territory. We hope Naxalism will end soon in this area and across the country."
Earlier on May 23, the District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans celebrated the operation, in which 27 naxals were neutralised, including the general secretary of the banned Maoist organisation, Basavaraju.
In the videos, the personnel were seen dancing and celebrating the operation's success among each other. Despite the rain, personnel enjoyed the splashes and danced to songs by playing with colour.
The relatives of the DRG personnel welcomed them with arti and chanted "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
The Inspector General (IG) of Bastar Range in Chhattisgarh, P Sundarraj, on Thursday said CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju, who was killed in an encounter had an active role in the planning of many Naxalite attacks on security forces and people's representatives, and termed his killing a remarkable achievement in the anti-Naxal operation.
Basavaraju was among the 27 Naxals killed in the joint operation of the security forces in the Abujmarh forests of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district.
AK-47 rifles, SLR-INSAS carbines, and other arms and ammunition in heavy numbers were recovered. One DRG jawan was martyred, and several others were injured in the operation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the efforts of India's security forces after 27 Maoists, including top CPI-Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, were killed in a significant operation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district.
Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X, "Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring peace and progress for our people."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that this is the first time in three decades of India's battle against Naxalism that the security forces have neutralised a General Secretary-ranked leader.
Noting that Basavaraju was the backbone of the Naxal movement, Amit Shah said that 54 Naxalites have been arrested and that 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, after the completion of Operation Black Forest. (ANI)