Bijapur, Chhattisgarh – May 21, 2025:
In one of the most significant anti-Maoist operations in recent years, top Maoist commander Mallojula Venugopal, alias Basava Raju, was among 27 Naxalites killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Monday.
Basava Raju, a senior member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and chief of its Central Military Commission, had been a central figure in the Maoist insurgency for decades. Officials confirmed his death through intelligence sources and forensic examination. He carried a bounty of over ₹2.4 crore across multiple states and was considered one of India’s most wanted insurgents.
The joint operation was conducted by personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) based on specific intelligence inputs. The encounter took place in the dense Abujhmad forest, a long-time Maoist stronghold in southern Chhattisgarh.
According to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P, the encounter lasted several hours and involved heavy exchange of gunfire. “This is one of the biggest setbacks to the Maoist command structure in recent times,” he stated.
Security forces recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, explosives, and Maoist literature from the site. Several of the deceased were believed to be senior cadres involved in planning ambushes and attacks on state forces.
The death of Basava Raju is being hailed as a major victory by both state and central governments. Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended the security personnel for their “exceptional bravery and commitment” and reiterated the government’s goal of eradicating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) from India.
Raju, a native of Telangana, had been active in Maoist operations since the late 1980s and was known to be a close associate of deceased Maoist ideologue Kishanji. His strategic influence extended across several states, including Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Jharkhand.
While officials describe the encounter as a turning point, experts caution that the Maoist movement may regroup under new leadership. “The death of a top leader like Basava Raju is a psychological blow to the insurgency, but addressing root causes like underdevelopment and tribal disenfranchisement remains critical,” said a senior analyst with the Institute for Conflict Studies.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also praised the security operation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace and development in affected regions.
This operation marks a major milestone in India’s ongoing battle against Maoist insurgency, which has spanned over five decades and affected large swathes of central and eastern India.
