RAIPUR, India: Indian security forces engaged in a skirmish with Maoist insurgents on Tuesday, resulting in the death of at least seven rebels in the central state of Chhattisgarh, as reported by police to news agency.
The clash occurred in a remote area of the state, marking the latest confrontation in the longstanding conflict that has unfolded in the country’s dense central forests.
Inspector-General Sundarraj Pattilingam of Bastar district police confirmed the recovery of the bodies of seven Maoist insurgents, including two women. The security forces also seized a significant quantity of weapons, including automatic firearms, during the operation.
This incident follows two similar clashes earlier this month in Chhattisgarh, where 29 Maoist guerrillas were killed on April 16 and another 13 on April 2. According to police records, approximately 90 Maoists have been killed in India this year, with the majority of fatalities occurring in Chhattisgarh.
The Maoist insurgents, commonly referred to as Naxalites, claim to champion the cause of the rural poor and have been engaged in guerrilla warfare since 1967. The conflict, situated in the “Red Corridor” spanning central, southern, and eastern states, has witnessed significant government efforts to combat insurgency and promote development in remote regions. India has reported a reduction in the number of districts affected by the insurgency, attributing it to infrastructure development initiatives.
However, the conflict has persisted, resulting in numerous deadly encounters between government forces and insurgents over the years. Recent incidents include a gun battle in 2021 that claimed the lives of 22 police and paramilitaries and a bomb attack in 2019 in which 16 commandos were killed in Maharashtra, attributed to the Maoists.
The clashes underscore the ongoing challenge faced by Indian authorities in addressing the insurgency and maintaining security in affected regions, particularly amidst heightened security measures during the ongoing general election period.
