Indian Forces Kill 14 Maoist Rebels, Including Top Commander

Indian security forces killed at least 14 Maoist rebels on Tuesday, including a senior commander with a bounty of $115,000 on his head, in one of the most significant clashes in recent years, according to Interior Minister Amit Shah.

The operation targeted Jairam, also known as Chalpati, a key leader in the Maoist insurgency. The encounter comes shortly after the killing of 12 Maoists on January 16 in Chhattisgarh, the guerrillas’ stronghold in central India.

The Maoist insurgency, which has persisted for decades, has claimed over 10,000 lives and is rooted in the rebels’ fight for the rights of marginalized communities in resource-rich regions. Official figures show that 287 Maoists were killed in 2024.

Interior Minister Shah described the operation as “another mighty blow to Naxalism” and reaffirmed his goal to eliminate the insurgency by March 2026. “Naxalism is breathing its last,” Shah declared in a statement, confirming the deaths of 14 rebels.

Police reported ongoing operations in the forested area, with reinforcements deployed. Vivekananda Sinha, head of Chhattisgarh’s anti-Maoist unit, stated, “Forces are still inside the forest.”

The Maoists, also called Naxalites after their origins in Naxalbari district in 1967, draw ideological inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. They demand land rights, employment, and equitable access to the region’s natural resources for local communities.

Once a powerful force across India’s eastern and southern states, the insurgency gained significant traction in the early 2000s. In response, New Delhi deployed tens of thousands of troops in the “Red Corridor,” a stretch of Maoist-dominated territory.

Despite their declining influence, the Maoists continue to launch deadly attacks on government forces. Earlier this month, a roadside bomb killed nine Indian troops in Chhattisgarh, underscoring the ongoing challenges in ending the conflict.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *