Security personnel killed 27 Naxalites in an encounter in the forests of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Wednesday, May 21.

The exchange of gunfire took place in the dense forests of Abhujmad. The region lies at the intersection of Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada districts in Chhattisgarh.

DRG personnel conducted the operation. The DRG units came from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Kondagaon, as per officials quoted by PTI.

The security forces launched the operation based on credible intelligence. The inputs indicated the presence of senior Maoist leaders. These included members of the Central Committee, Politburo, and the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).

A senior police officer confirmed the recovery of 27 bodies. Security forces also recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.

The officer reported that one member of the DRG was martyred in the encounter. Some other personnel sustained injuries. Medical teams treated the injured, and their condition is now stable.

Senior Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, was among those killed during the operation. He served as the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). He was in his late 60s and was regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Naxalite movement.

Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed Rao's death on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, “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.” The Home Minister described the operation as a "landmark achievement" in India's fight against Naxalism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the forces. He described the development as a "major breakthrough" in India’s ongoing effort to end Maoist violence.

PM Modi tweeted on X, “Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for our people.”

Amit Shah noted that this marks the first time in three decades of India’s battle against Naxalism that a general secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by the forces. He said, “I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough.”

Shah also shared details on the larger crackdown on Maoist activity. He stated that following the completion of Operation Black Forest, security forces have arrested 54 Naxalites and secured the surrender of 84 others. These events occurred in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. He reiterated the Modi government's goal to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

According to PTI, with this latest encounter, the total number of Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh this year has reached 200. Out of these, 183 were killed in Bastar alone. This highlights Bastar’s central role in India’s anti-Naxal operations.

Police are still in the process of identifying the deceased. Authorities expect to release more details soon.