NEW DELHI: Rendering the CPI(Maoist) headless with the elimination of its top leader Basavaraju , did not come in one single blow but through sustained, intelligence-based strikes aimed at demolishing the Maoist ‘safe havens’ one by one, but which really gathered stream after the change of govt in Chhattisgarh in December 2023.
Though home minister Amit Shah had conceived the mission to uproot Left-wing extremism soon after taking over in 2019 — envisaging moving of the security forces into Naxal “strongholds” untouched by administration or policing and introducing the locals there to the Centre’s flagship schemes — the “double engine” model really kicked in with installation of the BJP govt in Chhattisgarh, the state most affected by Maoist violence. Successes had been achieved by then in tackling and eliminating Maoists from their pocket boroughs in Bihar and Jharkhand, and taking the fight to Abujhmad region in Chhattisgarh, where the top Maoist leadership was ensconced, was the next logical step.
What has followed after 2023 is seamless coordination between the Centre and its agencies like CRPF, IB and BSF, on the one hand, and the Chhattisgarh govt and state police with its specialised anti-Naxal wings like district reserve guard (DRG) and special taskforce (STF). Over the past one-and-a-half years, these agencies have worked as per a well-laid out strategy to to neutralise the outfit’s senior, middle and lower-rung leadership and cadres, challenge them in what they thought were their “secure” bastions; and push back the Maoists to shrink their area of influence was shrunk to a few pockets dotting the inter-state tri-junctions.
The statistics speak for the success of these coordinated efforts — 401 Maoists were neutralised, 1429 were arrested and 1355 surrendered in Chhattisgarh between December 1, 2023 and May 21, 2025.
To ensure that the Maoists do not reenter areas freed from their hold, the CRPF has been setting up security camps or forward operating bases (FOBs) there. Since 2019, nearly 555 such camps have been established, increasing security presence and facilitating an administrative push in the surrounding villages. The benefits of development and pressure on the Maoists with sustained operations meanwhile encouraged a wave of surrenders. Maoists, faced with depleted strength due to killing, arrests and surrenders of their cadres, are now appealing for ceasefire and talks. But the Centre is in no mood to relent and is focused on dealing the final blow to Naxalism and eliminating it well within the March 2026 deadline. .
Operation Black Forest conducted from May 22 to April 11 and now the Narayanpur operation — which have together eliminated 58 Maoists, including their top leader Basavaraju — are part of that final blow. While Operation Black Forest successfully displaced the senior CPI(Maoist) leadership and the most potent PLGA battalion no 1 from their Karreguttalu Hills hideout on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, forcing them to take refuge in segregated pockets with a depleted arsenal and supplies, the Narayanapur operation has hit them like never before, rendering the outfit headless.
Wednesday’s operation also showcases the success of DRG experiment to utilise surrendered Naxals for anti-Maoist operations. DRG had been taking the lead in joint operations, with its commandos well-versed with the terrain and topography of Maoists’ forest hideouts and familiar with their operational tactics. Armed with pinpointed intelligence, DRG achieved its biggest success on Wednesday — Basavaraju, who according to former CRPF DG K Vijay Kumar operated with Ninja-like stealth, was finally cornered and taken down by the very men who he had once commanded.
Though home minister Amit Shah had conceived the mission to uproot Left-wing extremism soon after taking over in 2019 — envisaging moving of the security forces into Naxal “strongholds” untouched by administration or policing and introducing the locals there to the Centre’s flagship schemes — the “double engine” model really kicked in with installation of the BJP govt in Chhattisgarh, the state most affected by Maoist violence. Successes had been achieved by then in tackling and eliminating Maoists from their pocket boroughs in Bihar and Jharkhand, and taking the fight to Abujhmad region in Chhattisgarh, where the top Maoist leadership was ensconced, was the next logical step.
What has followed after 2023 is seamless coordination between the Centre and its agencies like CRPF, IB and BSF, on the one hand, and the Chhattisgarh govt and state police with its specialised anti-Naxal wings like district reserve guard (DRG) and special taskforce (STF). Over the past one-and-a-half years, these agencies have worked as per a well-laid out strategy to to neutralise the outfit’s senior, middle and lower-rung leadership and cadres, challenge them in what they thought were their “secure” bastions; and push back the Maoists to shrink their area of influence was shrunk to a few pockets dotting the inter-state tri-junctions.
The statistics speak for the success of these coordinated efforts — 401 Maoists were neutralised, 1429 were arrested and 1355 surrendered in Chhattisgarh between December 1, 2023 and May 21, 2025.
To ensure that the Maoists do not reenter areas freed from their hold, the CRPF has been setting up security camps or forward operating bases (FOBs) there. Since 2019, nearly 555 such camps have been established, increasing security presence and facilitating an administrative push in the surrounding villages. The benefits of development and pressure on the Maoists with sustained operations meanwhile encouraged a wave of surrenders. Maoists, faced with depleted strength due to killing, arrests and surrenders of their cadres, are now appealing for ceasefire and talks. But the Centre is in no mood to relent and is focused on dealing the final blow to Naxalism and eliminating it well within the March 2026 deadline. .
Operation Black Forest conducted from May 22 to April 11 and now the Narayanpur operation — which have together eliminated 58 Maoists, including their top leader Basavaraju — are part of that final blow. While Operation Black Forest successfully displaced the senior CPI(Maoist) leadership and the most potent PLGA battalion no 1 from their Karreguttalu Hills hideout on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, forcing them to take refuge in segregated pockets with a depleted arsenal and supplies, the Narayanapur operation has hit them like never before, rendering the outfit headless.
Wednesday’s operation also showcases the success of DRG experiment to utilise surrendered Naxals for anti-Maoist operations. DRG had been taking the lead in joint operations, with its commandos well-versed with the terrain and topography of Maoists’ forest hideouts and familiar with their operational tactics. Armed with pinpointed intelligence, DRG achieved its biggest success on Wednesday — Basavaraju, who according to former CRPF DG K Vijay Kumar operated with Ninja-like stealth, was finally cornered and taken down by the very men who he had once commanded.
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