Bastar, Chhattisgarh, January 19, 2026: Security forces have launched an intensified operation to track down Paparao, the last major Maoist commander active in the dense forests of Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Intelligence inputs suggest that Paparao’s network is under significant pressure as anti-Maoist operations across the region gain momentum. Officials say that focused operations have been underway for over a week, targeting his remaining cadres and dismantling the insurgent infrastructure in the area.

Profile of the Maoist Commander

Paparao, aged between 52 and 55, hails from Nimalguda in Sukma district and has long been a key figure in the West Bastar Division of the Maoist organization. He is also a member of the Maoist state zonal committee, commanding significant tactical experience in guerrilla warfare and combat operations. Known for his operational command skills, Paparao once led a team of approximately 35 armed cadres. Under sustained counter-insurgency pressure, this group has reportedly been split into smaller units, with Paparao now believed to be moving with only about five armed cadres, signaling the severe strain on the remaining Maoist leadership.

Paparao is armed with an AK-47, and a reward of ₹25 lakh has been announced for his capture. Security forces are combing the region, particularly the forested pockets near the Chhattisgarh–Maharashtra border, which have historically provided cover and mobility for insurgent leaders.

Recent Operations and Maoist Losses

The intensified search comes on the heels of a significant breakthrough over the past weekend. Security forces killed six Maoists in Bijapur, including Dilip Bedja, a close associate of Paparao responsible for logistics, local coordination, and movement. This operation has further destabilized Paparao’s network.

Statistics indicate a dramatic reduction in Maoist activity in the region: in 2025 alone, 255 Maoists were killed in Bastar, and over 1,500 surrendered. The Union government has set a target date of March 31, 2026, to end Left-wing extremism in affected regions. The elimination of Maoist chief Nambala Kesava Rao, alias Basavaraju, in May 2025 marked a turning point, with the number of Left-Wing extremism-hit districts falling from 18 in April 2025 to 11 districts today.

Maoist activity in late 2025 involved the planting and stockpiling of explosives in parts of the Indravati National Park, aimed at targeting security forces. However, repeated operations, arrests, and surrenders have disrupted these plans.

Strategic and Intelligence Efforts

Officials say Paparao’s group relied heavily on local facilitators for food, shelter, and early warning intelligence, but this network has come under intense scrutiny. Intelligence-based operations, coupled with community support, have significantly reduced the insurgency’s operational freedom.

Inspector General of Police, Sunderraj P, stated that the region has undergone a historic transformation in combating Left-wing extremism. Most senior Maoist leaders have either been neutralized or eliminated, and the remaining cadres, including Paparao, are isolated and on the run.

“Only a few scattered remnants remain, largely confined to small groups led by Paparao and a handful of other cadres,” Sunderraj said. “Former Maoist cadres, including some of Paparao’s earlier associates, have surrendered and are now leading dignified lives under the government’s rehabilitation policy.”

Security officials are now engaged in decisive area domination and combing operations, particularly across the Indravati–Abujhmad belt, to dismantle the last organized Maoist leadership structure.

Call for Surrender and Peace

Authorities have repeatedly appealed to Paparao and the remaining insurgents to abandon violence and surrender. Sunderraj emphasized that surrendering would allow these individuals to reintegrate into society and participate in peace and development initiatives. However, he warned that failure to comply would result in firm and decisive action by security forces to ensure lasting peace in Bastar.

The ongoing operations highlight the government’s commitment to ending Left-wing extremism through a combination of military, intelligence, and community-based measures. Officials stressed that sustained pressure, combined with rehabilitation incentives for surrendered Maoists, has been critical in dismantling the insurgency’s support networkand stabilizing Bastar.

Conclusion

Paparao’s hunt represents the final phase of anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, a region that has been a long-standing hotspot for Left-wing extremism. The Union government’s ambitious goal of eliminating Maoist activity by March 31, 2026, is being actively pursued, with intelligence-based operations and enhanced local cooperation playing a pivotal role.

Security forces remain vigilant, with a focus on neutralizing the last pockets of resistance and restoring full governance and development in Bastar. The region’s transformation over the past year serves as a model for counter-insurgency operations nationwide, balancing operational pressure with opportunities for rehabilitation, and aiming for lasting peace in one of India’s most challenging insurgency zones.

Paparao, now cornered, represents the last organized leadership structure of Maoists in Bastar, and the ongoing operations are expected to determine the conclusive phase of India’s long-running fight against Left-wing extremism.