Maoists Severely Weakened After Top Leaders Killed; Only 3 Politburo Members Left: Report

News18

09-06-2025

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In recent months, security forces have intensified their operations against the Maoists, eliminating high-profile leaders like Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju.
The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has been severely weakened after a string of major setbacks, as the strength of its top leadership bodies has been significantly depleted since the peak of the insurgency in the 2000s, following the killings of its top leaders and daily surrenders.
Security forces gunned down top Naxal commander, Bhaskar, in the National Park area of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh last week. The deceased Naxal had a bounty of Rs 45 lakh on him.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the CPI(M)'s Politburo, its highest decision-making body, has sunk from 11-12 members in the 2000s to just three: Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Thippiri Thirupathi alias Devuji, and Misir Besra alias Sagar. The Central Committee of the Maoists has also shrunk from 42 in 2007-08 to just 17.
Security Forces Step Up Anti-Maoist Ops
In recent months, security forces have intensified their operations against the Maoists, focusing on high-ranking leaders. Last month, the forces successfully eliminated Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, a top Maoist leader.
This was the first time in over three decades that the fountain-head of the Naxal movement – of General Secretary rank – was killed by the Chhattisgarh Police's District Reserve Guard (DRG).
On June 6, senior Maoist leader Narasimha Chalam, alias Sudhakar, who had a bounty of Rs 40 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the same area, said police. The 67-year-old hailed from Andhra Pradesh.
Sudhakar was one of the most influential figures in the group after Basavaraju, according to authorities. He was studying to become an Ayurveda doctor in Vijayawada when he was recruited by a Maoist outfit. He was involved in the indoctrination and radicalisation of youth and was also responsible for numerous Naxal attacks.
Indian security forces have recorded close to 300 Maoist (Naxalite) casualties in just the first 150 days of 2025 – marking the most significant annual toll since 2009, and the fastest pace of Maoist elimination since the peak of the insurgency. Hundreds of Maoist cadres have also surrendered to security forces.
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