Controversy over last rites of Maoist leader Keshava Rao and others in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor* 

The last rites of Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju—General Secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist)—and seven other Maoist cadres killed in an encounter on May 21 were conducted by police in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on May 26. This decision has sparked controversy, with family members and human rights advocates alleging denial of due rights to claim and perform the final rites of their relatives.

Twenty-seven Maoists were killed in a major encounter with security forces in the Abujhmad area of Narayanpur. Among them was Basavaraju, a high-ranking Maoist leader, along with others such as Bhoomika, Sangeeta, and Rakesh from Telangana.

While Chhattisgarh police confirmed that 20 of the 27 bodies were handed over to verified claimants, they stated that the remaining—including Basavaraju's—were cremated after the claimants failed to provide sufficient legal documentation to establish their relationship to the deceased.

Family members of five deceased Maoists, including those of Basavaraju, traveled from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to Narayanpur, seeking custody of the bodies. According to human rights activist Bela Bhatia, and several claimants, valid identification such as Aadhaar cards and a copy of a High Court order were submitted. However, police proceeded with cremations, citing lack of adequate legal proof, including absence of documents such as a village Sarpanch certificate.

Basavaraju's nephew, Nabla Janardhan Rao, stated that despite providing identification and following police instructions, he was not allowed to see or claim the body. He described the process as opaque and distressing.

The Bastar police issued a statement asserting that all legal procedures were followed, and that only those bodies for which legal relationship could be verified were released. They further noted that the cremations were conducted to prevent public rallies or glorification attempts by Maoist sympathizers.

One police officer alleged that the Maoist organization was attempting to orchestrate large-scale funerals to propagate their ideology. Authorities also suggested that those claiming the bodies may not have met legal criteria, despite possessing personal ID documents.

The incident has raised questions about the balance between security protocols and fundamental rights. Bela Bhatia emphasized that under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and international human rights frameworks, the dignity of the dead and the right of families to perform last rites must be respected.

Civil liberties activists, including V Chittibabu and Ch Chandrasekhar, accused law enforcement of obstructing the families' efforts to claim the bodies, alleging even house arrests and intimidation. Their letter to Andhra Pradesh officials referenced legal provisions including NHRC guidelines and Geneva Convention principles on the treatment of the deceased.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court had allowed family members to approach Chhattisgarh police to claim the bodies. Petitioners reported that despite court orders and submission of documents, the police did not release the remains.

The CPI (Maoist) Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee issued a statement blaming the May 21 encounter on betrayal by recent surrenders within their ranks. They claimed that Basavaraju was captured alive before being killed and that security forces had targeted him for months.

In the statement, the group characterized the operation as part of a broader effort to dismantle their leadership. They praised Basavaraju's resolve to remain with his cadre and emphasized the role of “sacrifice” in their struggle.

The incident highlights the ongoing tension between state security operations and human rights obligations in conflict zones. While authorities cite procedural compliance and security concerns, families and activists argue that fundamental rights were bypassed, warranting further scrutiny and accountability.

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*Freelance journalist