The era of high-profile Maoist commanders in Bastar is drawing to a close as security forces narrow their focus on Paparao, the 55-year-old veteran rebel. Once the undisputed leader of the West Bastar Division, Paparao is now a fugitive in the very forests he once controlled. With a 25 lakh rupee reward on his head, he represents the final remnants of a leadership structure that is rapidly disintegrating under the weight of sustained military and tactical pressure from the Chhattisgarh Police and paramilitary forces. Originally from the Sukma district, Paparao’s journey through the ranks of the Maoist movement was marked by violence and strategic maneuvering. Today, however, he is a shadow of his former self. Intelligence reports suggest he has been stripped of his larger contingent, forced to flee with a handful of loyalists. This shift from leading 35 armed fighters to hiding with just five indicates a total breakdown in the Maoists’ ability to sustain large-scale operations or provide security for their top brass.
