Indian Security Forces Kill 12 Maoist Rebels in Chhattisgarh

Indian security forces killed at least 12 Maoist rebels in a fierce firefight on Thursday in the forested Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, a region widely regarded as the insurgency’s stronghold.

Senior police official Sundarraj P confirmed the fatalities, stating, “We have received information of the killing of 12 Maoists in encounters with the security forces.” The operation is part of New Delhi’s intensified efforts to suppress the decades-long rebellion.

The Maoist insurgency, which claims to fight for the rights of marginalized Indigenous communities, has claimed more than 10,000 lives over the years. Chhattisgarh remains the epicenter of the conflict, with over 200 Maoists killed in security crackdowns in the past year, according to government data.

India’s Interior Minister, Amit Shah, previously declared the government’s aim to eliminate the rebellion by 2026. However, the conflict continues to see frequent violence.

Earlier this month, a roadside bomb in the region killed nine Indian troops. A week later, security forces killed five rebels in a separate encounter, while a bomb blast injured two police officers. In 2021, 22 police and paramilitary personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush, and in 2019, 16 commandos died in a bomb attack in Maharashtra ahead of national elections.

The ongoing insurgency, often referred to as India’s “Red Corridor” conflict, remains one of the nation’s most enduring security challenges.

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