In a decisive push to eliminate the banned CPI(Maoist) by March 26, 2026, central security forces, under the directive of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have launched an intensified operation to hunt down the remaining top leaders of the insurgent group. This comes days after the neutralisation of CPI(Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavraj, along with 26 other operatives in a fierce gun-battle in Chhattisgarh.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified several top figures still at large, including Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, Nirmala, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji, Kathakam Sudarshan and four other central committee and politburo members.
Each carries a bounty of Rs 1 crore, signifying their status as high-value targets. The Chhattisgarh government has separately announced rewards of Rs 40 lakh each for nine additional Maoist operatives.
Legacy of violence and networks in the east
Venugopal Rao is notably the brother of slain Maoist politburo member Kishanji, who was killed in West Bengal’s Jhargram in 2011. MHA sources have confirmed that Nirmala, a senior politburo member, has recently been sighted moving between West Bengal and Assam, indicating the Maoists’ enduring network and support in eastern India.
“Since the 2004 merger of the People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre to form CPI(Maoist), western Bengal has remained volatile,” an MHA official said. Intelligence reports suggest that sympathisers continue to offer safe haven and logistical support across the region.
Under the BJP-led government, the anti-Maoist campaign has seen significant escalation. Between 2020 and 2023, 141 Maoists were neutralised. In contrast, the launch of Operation Kagar in January 2024 led to a sharp increase, with 223 Maoists killed in 2024 alone. In the first half of 2025, 145 rebels have already been eliminated.
The Bastar region in Chhattisgarh — covering 38,932 sq. km and including strongholds like Abhujmad and Dantewada — remains the epicentre of the conflict. Long considered impenetrable due to its dense forests and difficult terrain, the area is now the focus of high-tech and high-intensity operations.
Technology as a force multiplier
Israeli-manufactured drones and data analytics from the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) have become crucial in this new phase of the campaign. Operating at altitudes of 15,000 feet, these drones can cut through fog and night to provide real-time, high-resolution intelligence.
“Thanks to these aerial assets, we’re able to carry out precise surgical strikes deep inside insurgent territory,” said an MHA official. A major NTRO-led operation earlier this year successfully eliminated 14 top operatives, including Jairam Reddy alias Chalapati, another central committee member carrying a ₹1 crore bounty.
With the 2026 deadline drawing closer, security agencies have shifted their strategy toward dismantling the Maoist leadership structure entirely. “We are employing surveillance, intelligence, and strategic force to wipe out the command structure of the insurgency,” said a senior officer from the elite anti-Maoist task force.
The government’s resolve signals a potentially final chapter in India’s longest-running internal security crisis. As the crackdown intensifies, one stronghold at a time, the once-feared Maoist insurgency may soon be relegated to history.
