2025 Abujhmarh clash
{{Short description|Maoist attack in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 2025 Abujhmarh clash
| partof = the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| date = 21 May 2025
| place = Abujhmarh, Chhattisgarh, India
| territory =
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|South Asian Communist Banner.svg}} Communist Party of India (Maoist)
| combatant2 = {{flag|India}}
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|South Asian Communist Banner.svg}} Nambala Keshava Rao{{KIA}}
| commander2 = Unknown
| units1 = PLGA
| units2 = District Reserve Guard
| strength1 = 35{{Cite news|title=Basavaraju's death due to 'betrayal' by some in core formations: Naxals|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/basavarajus-death-due-to-betrayal-by-some-in-core-formations-naxals/articleshow/121422461.cms|access-date=2025-05-28|website=Times of India}}
| strength2 = 100+
| casualties1 = 28 killed{{Cite news|title=Top Maoist leader Basava Raju among 27 killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maoists-dead-encounter-chhattisgarh-abujhmad-narayanpur-10019156/|access-date=2025-05-21|website=Indian Express}}
| casualties3 =
| notes =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Naxalite insurgency}}
}}
The 2025 Abujhmarh clash was an encounter between Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Indian security forces in the Abujhmarh forest area in Chhattisgarh, India. It was among the deadliest clashes in the recent history of the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency in India. The Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao, having a combined bounty of ₹3.5 Crore (around 410,000 USD) was killed in the encounter.{{Cite news|title=26 Maoists killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/ranchi-news/26-maoists-killed-in-encounter-with-security-forces-in-chhattisgarh-s-bastar-101747809786739.html|access-date=2025-05-21|website=Hindustan Times}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-21 |title='Brutal revolutionary' behind most audacious Naxal attacks in history: Story & significance of Basavaraju, dreaded Maoist leader allegedly killed in encounter |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/basavaraju-dreaded-maoist-leader-killed-chhattisgarh-10019574/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Background
Four units of District Reserve Guard, was combing the area of Maad, which is a remote area in Abhujmarh known for its insurgent activity, the forces had already got intelligence indicating presence of top Maoist leaders camping near the area.{{Cite web |title=Who Was Basava Raju? Top Naxal Commander Involved In 2010 Dantewada Attack Killed in Narayanpur Encounter |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/who-was-basava-raju-top-naxal-commander-involved-in-2010-dantewada-attack-killed-in-narayanpur-encounter |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}
Until 2023, the Abhujmarh forest was safe heaven for Maoists and most senior leadership camped in that area. The Hunt for the top Nambala keshava Rao began months ago, with each cadre surrendering they were thoroughly interrogated by the Intelligence unit to get any information regarding the top leadership. The Cadres of Platoon No.7 which guarded the top leaders, were a top lookout for the Security forces, cadres of this unit know valuable information regarding the leadership and have good navigation ideas of the dense Abhujmarh forest. Many of the Captured/surrendered cadres tried to mislead investigation by giving false statements or twisted inputs but any information regarding the target was noted by the authorities.
Incident
On May 20, the day before the encounter, the District Reserve Guard members were searching the Maad area of the Abhujmarh forest in input of Senior members of the group, but the unit couldn't find them and settled in for the night unbeknownst to them, Nambala Keshava Rao and his Platoon No.7 was also spending the night just 1km ahead of them.
On May 21, at 7 AM a sapper from the Maoists suddenly encountered a DRG soldier searching the area, in a panic moment the maoist bayoneted his rifle into the DRG soldier and in a scuffle of resistance, a shot was fired. The Maoist scattered and ran towards south of the forest but encountered a unit of the Security forces then they ran north and encountered another unit of DRG, Feeling surrounded they made a defensive perimeter around a person in a elevated position and fired. The DRG observing suspected the person was a high value target so they return fire taking out the target. When the target was down, the maoists scattered and ran away but soon all of them were gun downed.{{Cite news|title=The inside story of how senior Maoist leader Basavaraju was killed in Abujmad|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-a-surrendered-maoist-became-key-link-in-operation-that-killed-basavraju-101748079982324.html|access-date=2025-05-26|website=Hindustan Times}}
After the firefight was subsided, a DRG member who was a former maoist and served in the Platoon No.7 identified the killed target as Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj who is the General-Seceretary of the CPI(Maoist), which is the highest position in group, and a cache of weapons was also recovered from the site. Other Senior member included Madhu, who is Senior member in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC).{{Cite news|title=Top Maoist leader Basavraju among 27 killed in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-narayanpur-maoists-encounter-may-21-2025/article69600457.ece|access-date=2025-05-22|website=The Hindu}}{{Cite news|title=Naxal leader Basava Raju killed in encounter. Is this the end of the Maoist movement?|url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/naxal-leader-basava-raju-killed-in-encounter-is-this-the-end-of-the-maoist-movement-13890480.html|access-date=2025-05-22|website=Firstpost}}
Aftermath
The Operation can be considered as a severe blow to Maoist group and its insurgency as its leader has been eliminated. Nambala Keshava Rao had a bounty of ₹3.5 Crore by different state and central agencies on his head and was placed in the NIA Most Wanted list and it was the first time in three decades since the top most leader of the group was eliminated.{{Cite news|title=Maoist Basavaraju killed: How 50-hour-long Op Kagar ended era of red terror|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nambala-keshava-rao-basavaraju-killed-chhattisgarh-naxal-encounter-red-terror-2728416-2025-05-21|access-date=2025-05-22|website=India Today}}
Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah has vowed to eliminate Maoist insurgency by March 2026 and this incident can be considered a major step towards the stated goal.{{Cite news|title=Who was Maoist leader Basavaraju, whose death Amit Shah calls a ‘major breakthrough’?|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/who-was-maoist-leader-basavaraju-whose-death-amit-shah-calls-a-major-breakthrough|access-date=2025-05-22|website=News Minute}}
The total bounty of the killed cadres was ₹12.3 crores which will be equally distributed to the DRG unit personnel who took part in this operation.{{Cite news|title=27 Maoists killed carried total bounty of 12.3 cr; 25, including 12 women, were for Basavaraju’s protection|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/27-maoists-killed-carried-total-bounty-of-12-3-cr-25-including-12-women-were-for-basavarajus-protection/articleshow/121350603.cms|access-date=2025-05-23|website=Times of India}}
See also
References
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Category:2020s in Chhattisgarh
Category:Communist Party of India (Maoist) attacks
Category:Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
Category:Military operations involving India