Nambala Keshava Rao, also known by his aliases Basavaraju, Gaganna, and Prakash, was a prominent figure in India’s Maoist insurgency. Born in 1955 in Jiyannapet village, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, he pursued engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Warangal. During his college years, he became actively involved in left-wing student politics, leading the Radical Students Union and aligning with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People’s War.
Rao’s involvement in the Maoist movement spanned several decades. In 2004, following the merger of CPI (ML) People’s War and the Maoist Communist Centre of India, he became the head of the Central Military Commission of the newly formed Communist Party of India (Maoist) and a member of its Politburo. Known for his expertise in guerrilla warfare and use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he orchestrated several significant attacks, including the 2010 Dantewada ambush that resulted in the deaths of 76 CRPF personnel.
On May 21, 2025, Rao was killed during a 50-hour-long operation named “Operation Kagar” by Indian security forces in the Abujhmad forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. The operation led to the deaths of 27 Maoists, including Rao, marking a significant blow to the Maoist insurgency. His death has been hailed as a landmark achievement by Indian authorities, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah describing it as a pivotal moment in the country’s fight against left-wing extremism.
Rao’s demise leaves the CPI (Maoist) without a clear successor, leading to uncertainty within the organization’s leadership. His death is expected to significantly weaken the Maoist movement, particularly in regions like Odisha, where he had played a crucial role in expanding operations.
The Indian government has intensified its efforts to eliminate Naxalism, aiming to eradicate left-wing extremism entirely by March 2026.
