Raipur/IBNS: At least 26 Naxalites including top CPI (Maoist) leader Nambala Keshavrao have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, media reports said.

The operation by the security forces was launched on the basis of intelligence inputs about the presence of senior cadres of the Mad division of Maoists.

The encounter, which took place in the dense forests, started after the Maoists opened fire on teams of District Reserve Guards.

"More than 26 Naxalites have been neutralized by the security forces. Our forces fought bravely, and the operation is still ongoing with further search efforts underway," Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who is also the state Home Minister, told ANI.

Nambala Keshavrao, who is also known as Basavaraj, was reportedly the general secretary of CPI (Maoist).

In the previous week, 31 Naxalites were killed in an encounter on the Karreguttalu Hill in Chhattisgarh-Telangana.

The operations are in line with the central government's mission to free India from Naxalism.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah last month said the Modi government was committed to free India from Naxalism by March 31, 2026.