At least 31 suspected Maoist rebels were killed in a confrontation with Indian security forces in Chhattisgarh, according to state police. The crash occurred on Friday after counterinsurgency forces, acting on intelligence, surrounded 50 suspected insurgents in the dense Abujhmad forest, which lies on the border between Narayanpur and Dantewada districts. Inspector General Pattilingam Sundarraj confirmed the details on Saturday.
The operation, which commenced on Thursday, resulted in a nine-hour firefight the following day. Security forces have since launched search operations in the area, recovering several weapons, including automatic rifles. Notably, no injuries or casualties were reported among the government forces.
The Maoist rebels, often referred to as Naxalites, have been involved in an armed conflict with Indian forces since 1967. Their movement, inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, initially sought to secure jobs, land, and a fair share of natural resources for the country’s marginalized Indigenous communities. The insurgents are active in several central and northern states.
India has made significant efforts to curb the insurgency, including investing heavily in infrastructure development in remote areas. As of 2023, the government claims to have reduced the fighting to 45 districts, compared to 96 in 2010.
The conflict has resulted in numerous violent attacks over the years, including the killing of 22 police officers and paramilitaries in 2021 during a gun battle. In 2019, 16 commandos were killed in a bomb attack in Maharashtra, attributed to the Maoists during the lead-up to national elections.
Maoist rebels have also carried out ambushes, destroyed government facilities, abducted officials, and targeted infrastructure such as train tracks. They have attacked prisons to free their comrades and stolen weapons from police and paramilitary warehouses to bolster their arsenal.
As the fight against the Maoists continues, security forces remain vigilant in their efforts to dismantle the insurgency and restore peace in the region.
