In a historic breakthrough in India’s decades-long battle against Naxalism, the Government of India on Tuesday, June 10, announced the success of ‘Operation Black Forest’, resulting in the elimination of 31 Maoists, including Basavaraju, the most senior leader of the CPI (Maoist) and its General Secretary — the highest-ranking Maoist commander to be killed in 30 years.

The massive anti-Maoist campaign, which officials are hailing as a turning point, also led to the arrest of 54 Maoists and the surrender of 84 others.

The joint operation, conducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police, was launched in May 2025 and lasted over three weeks, targeting the dense and strategically important Kurragutta hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border — a region long seen as a Maoist fortress.

The mission was commanded and personally supervised from Raipur by CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh. In addition to the 31 Maoists killed, forces destroyed major Maoist training camps and dismantled powerful groups like PLGA Battalion 1 and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.

Security personnel recovered a massive cache of weaponry, including over 300 IEDs, nearly 900 explosive bundles, BGL shells, and weapons-manufacturing equipment, showcasing the insurgents’ deep-rooted militarisation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs declared the offensive as the “biggest blow to Naxalism in three decades”. In a symbolic victory, the Indian national flag now flies over what was once a Maoist command base.

Quoting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, India Today reported: “We are moving strongly towards our goal. The target is clear — to wipe out Left-Wing Extremism by March 2026.”