Top Maoist Basavaraju Cremated by Police amidst disputed claimants Over Body Handover

Maoist Chief Basavaraju Cremated by Police; Family Member Disputes Claim Process

Body of Nambala Kesava Rao, alias Basavaraju, the 70-year-old General Secretary of the CPI (Maoist) killed in last week's encounter in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad forest, has been cremated by authorities. Police officials in Narayanpur stated that the cremation of Basavaraju and six other deceased Naxals took place after no "clear legal claimant" came forward. However, this has been contested by a nephew of the slain Maoist leader.

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Authorities Cite no 'Clear Legal Claimants'

According to a press statement from the Bastar police, of the 27 bodies recovered from the encounter site, 20 were handed over to family members after their claims were verified. For the remaining seven, including Basavaraju, police asserted there were no clear legal claimants. They stated that five groups of individuals, including those for Basavaraju, approached authorities but "couldn’t produce valid and satisfactory documents to prove their relationship to the deceased" or legal papers to take the bodies to Andhra Pradesh/Telangana. Consequently, these seven bodies were cremated in Narayanpur following legal procedures and an order from an executive magistrate. Police highlighted that Basavaraju had at least 258 criminal cases against him.

Nephew was denied for claiming the Body

A contrasting account has been presented by Nabla Janardhan Rao, who identified himself as Basavaraju's nephew. He told media that he had approached the police on Sunday and provided his details, including his Aadhaar card, on Monday. However, he claims he was subsequently informed that the body was decomposing and could not be handed over, and that his request to even view the body was denied.

The CPI (Maoist) party, in a press note, had acknowledged the death of 28 cadres, including Basavaraju, in the encounter. Police state they are maintaining strict vigilance over activities of Maoist supporters. The cremation of top Maoist leader Basavaraju has been carried out by Chhattisgarh police under circumstances where the official claim of no clear legal heir presenting valid documentation is disputed by a family member. This development concludes a chapter on a significant figure in the Maoist insurgency, though differing accounts regarding the final procedures persist.