In a dramatic increase in military operations, Indian security forces have killed at least 27 individuals in Chhattisgarh, targeting individuals described as communist militants amid a broader campaign to eliminate the decades-long Maoist insurgency. The operation, led by police chief Prabhat Kumar, reportedly resulted in the death or serious injury of multiple senior Maoist figures, including a prominent leader known as Basavaraju, also identified as Nambala Keshav Rao.
Just days prior, an engagement led to the deaths of 31 suspected Maoists in a hilly region straddling Chhattisgarh and an adjacent state. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed this operation as a “historic breakthrough,” reinforcing the government's commitment to eradicate the insurgency by March of the following year. The Maoist movement has persisted intermittently for over half a century, causing significant unrest in various regions of India.
Amid the heightened military response, human rights advocates are pressing for thorough investigations into the reported fatalities to ascertain whether all the deceased were insurgents or if innocent civilians were also caught in the crossfire. Activist Bela Bhatia emphasized the importance of promptly returning identified bodies to their families, criticizing the delays often experienced before the government discloses information on casualties.
