Underground Since 1999, Who Was Top Maoist Leader Modem Balakrishna Killed In Chhattisgarh?

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 06:30 IST

Senior CPI (Maoist) central committee member Modem Balakrishna was known by several aliases such as Venkateswarlu, Balanna, Ramchander, Babanna, Bhaskar, and Rajendra

Senior CPI (Maoist) central committee member Modem Balakrishna was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband district on September 11. (Image: @revfuryy/X)

In a significant development, security forces on Thursday eliminated a top Maoist leader in a fierce encounter in the dense forests of Gariyaband district on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. 

A total of 10 Naxals were killed, including senior CPI (Maoist) central committee member Modem Balakrishna, known by several aliases such as Venkateswarlu, Balanna, Ramchander, Babanna, Bhaskar, and Rajendra.

DEEP HYDERABAD ROOTS, INFLUENCED BY RSU

Originally from Madikonda in Telangana’s Warangal district, Balakrishna had deep roots in Hyderabad where he studied SSC at Sulthanbazar Government High School and later pursued his intermediate at Malakpet Junior College between 1981 and 1983.

Influenced by the ideology of leaders of the Radical Students Union (RSU) like Sambamurthy and Santosh Reddy, he joined the Maoist movement as a full-time cadre in 1983, moving into the Bhadrachalam forests.

The Maoist leader’s early years were marked by multiple arrests. He was first picked up at Bhadrachalam bus stand in 1984 and spent over two years in Warangal Central Jail.

Arrested again in 1987 in Mahaboobnagar, he was imprisoned in Musheerabad Jail until his release in 1990 in exchange for kidnapped TDP MLA Venkateswara Rao.

Over the next decade, he rose steadily through the Maoist ranks. In April 1991, he was appointed district committee secretary (DCS) of Mahaboobnagar and, by May 1991, he became a regional committee member (RCM) for South Telangana.

Balakrishna’s activities continued despite being arrested once again in Kurnool in 1993, where he spent six years in Chanchalguda Central Jail. Released on conditional bail in 1999, he went underground, subsequently emerging as secretary of the Odisha state organizing committee (SOC).

In recent years, he was in charge of the western bureau under the Odisha state committee of CPI (Maoist), making him a key strategist and one of the senior-most figures in Maoist hierarchy.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OPERATION

According to the CRPF, the operation was carried out by troops of the C/207 CoBRA unit along with Gariyaband police in the Bhaludigi forest area.

“A fierce encounter with Naxals is ongoing. Ten Naxals, including Central Committee and State Committee members, have been neutralized,” the CRPF said, adding that weapons were also recovered from the site.

In its statement, the Chhattisgarh Police noted: “As per initial reports, a senior Naxal commander has been neutralised. The encounter is still ongoing, and reports indicate several Naxals have been killed.”

Government sources confirmed that Balakrishna was among those neutralised. Security agencies consider this operation to be one of the biggest blows to Maoist leadership in the region in recent months.

By neutralising Balakrishna, who had nearly four decades of experience in insurgency, the forces have disrupted Maoist operational command in the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border zone. The operation in Gariyaband continues, and officials said further details on recoveries and identification of other slain cadres will follow.

About the Author

Ankur Sharma

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar…Read More

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar… Read More

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