(Image source from: ANI)

Basava Raju, a prominent figure in the Maoist movement, was identified among the minimum of 27 members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) who lost their lives during an engagement with security personnel in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday morning. Reports indicate that the District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched this operation, involving forces from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon, after intelligence suggested that a high-ranking Maoist leader was sheltered in a particular location within Abujhmad. This area represents a vast expanse of uncharted territory, exceeding the size of Goa. While predominantly located in Narayanpur, Abujhmad also stretches into Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, and Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra.

In discussing the incident, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, remarked, "The DRG primarily executes these operations, and I commend their courage. We have consistently urged them to surrender, and it is unnecessary to reiterate this." This encounter follows closely on the heels of a significant anti-Naxal initiative known as 'Black Forest,' which took place in the vicinity of the Kareguttalu hills near the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Although this operation concluded after 21 days, senior officials asserted that it significantly impacted the leadership of the Maoists, along with their feared Battalion 1 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army. The actions commenced on April 21 after various security forces received intelligence indicating that key Maoist leaders, including Hidma Madvi, had been observed in the Karregutta hills. Ultimately, 31 Maoists were reported killed during this confrontation.