Everything you need to know about the Maoist leader 'Nambala Keshava Rao'
Nambala Keshava Rao: The Fall of a Maoist Strategist On May 21, 2025, a significant blow was dealt to the Communist Party of India (Maoist) with the death of its General Secretary, Nambala Keshava Rao, also known by his aliases Basavaraju and Gaganna. He was killed in a fierce encounter with Indian security forces in the dense forests of Abujhmarh, Chhattisgarh, marking a pivotal moment in India's ongoing battle against Naxalite insurgency. --- Early Life and Radicalization Born in 1955 in Jiyannapet village, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, Rao was a bright student and a former kabaddi player. He pursued a B.Tech degree from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal. During his student years, he became involved in left-wing student politics and was arrested in 1980 during a clash between student unions in Srikakulam . His disillusionment with mainstream politics led him to join the Naxalite movement, where he quickly rose through ...