Rights groups talk peace, ceasefire as top Maoist is killed in Chhattisgarh operation

By A Representative 

Security forces have reportedly killed Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, the General Secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), along with 26 other Maoist cadres in an operation conducted in the Abujhmad forest region of Narayanpur district. 

According to official sources, the operation, codenamed Operation Kagar, was carried out by joint forces comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The encounter lasted approximately 50 hours, resulting in the deaths of several senior Maoist leaders. 

Government officials have hailed the operation as a significant success in counterinsurgency efforts, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah describing it as a "landmark achievement" in the battle against left-wing extremism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the security forces for their efforts. 

However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the circumstances of Basavaraju’s death. Some sources suggest that he was captured in Odisha while undergoing medical treatment and later brought to Abujhmad before being killed. These claims have led to calls for an independent inquiry into the incident by human rights organizations and civil society groups. 

Basavaraju, who had been a key figure in the Maoist movement since the 1980s, was known for his strategic leadership and involvement in major attacks against security forces. His death marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between the Indian state and Maoist insurgents. 

Human rights organizations and advocacy groups have urged the government to consider peace talks and a ceasefire, emphasizing the need for a political resolution to the conflict. Some activists argue that continued military operations risk exacerbating tensions and undermining efforts for dialogue. 

In response to the incident, the Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) released a statement condemning the killings: 

"This massacre is being hailed as a big success of the Indian State’s military might and a mockery is being made of genuine calls of the citizens and the CPI (Maoist) to declare a ceasefire and initiate peace talks. We term the killing of Basavaraju and his companions in Abujhmad forest a massacre carried out under an extermination campaign because they were encircled and killed, when there is a call for peace." 

FACAM has called for protests and public demonstrations to hold the government accountable, demanding an independent inquiry into the operation and a declaration of ceasefire for peace talks. 

The Chhattisgarh government has yet to respond to demands for an independent investigation into the operation. Meanwhile, security forces continue search operations in the region to locate any remaining Maoist cadres.