Senior Maoist leader Prabhakar, also known as Balmuri Narayan Rao, was taken into custody by Chhattisgarh police during a tactical operation in Antagarh, Kanker district. With a ₹25 lakh reward for his capture, Prabhakar, 57, has been an active member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) for more than 40 years. In the continuous battle against the Maoist insurgency in the area, his arrest is regarded as a major victory.
Prabhakar was an important member of the CPI (Maoist) Special Zone Committee and was instrumental in their educational and logistical activities, especially through the Mobile Political School (MOPOS). He has worked in numerous states, including Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, and has been associated with a number of prominent Maoist figures. Additionally, his wife was a leader in North Bastar’s Maoist organization.
After intelligence reports verified his activities in a region renowned for its Maoist presence, the police took action. Chhattisgarh police have detained 884 Maoist cadres in the Bastar division since the start of 2024, demonstrating a strong crackdown on Maoist activity in the area.
