PM Modi praises forces for neutralizing 27 Maoists in historic anti-Naxal operation

In a significant anti-Naxal operation carried out in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh, India's security forces neutralized 27 Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist), on May 20, 2025. This operation, which marked a monumental achievement in India's ongoing battle against left-wing extremism, was launched based on specific intelligence inputs and involved a coordinated offensive by joint teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from multiple districts. The encounter took place deep in the forests of Abujhmad, where the security personnel faced heavy gunfire from the Maoists. Despite the challenging terrain, the forces responded effectively, leading to the deaths of numerous Maoist operatives, including their top leaders. Home Minister Amit Shah recognized this operation as a historic milestone, noting that it was unprecedented in combating Naxalism that a General Secretary-ranked Maoist leader had been neutralized in over three decades. In the aftermath, the security forces not only secured major victories in this encounter but also confiscated a sizable cache of weapons, which included AK-47s, SLRs, and INSAS rifles among other arms and ammunition. The death of Nambala Keshav Rao represented a critical blow to the operational capabilities of the CPI (Maoist) group, which has been responsible for various violent activities across India's forested regions. The Indian government has pledged to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026, and this encounter is seen as a vital step towards achieving that goal. Following the operation, there have been reports of additional Maoists surrendering and being arrested in related operations. The security forces are continuing their efforts to locate any remaining insurgents in the area, reinforcing their commitment to restoring peace and security in regions affected by Maoist insurgency.