Police in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh have reported that 31 Maoist rebels were killed after a nine-hour firefight with security forces. The clash occurred in the dense Abujhmad forest after counterinsurgency forces surrounded approximately 50 suspected rebels based on intelligence. The operation, which began on Thursday, led to a lengthy battle the following day resulting in the recovery of several weapons but no injuries among government forces.
The conflict with Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, has been ongoing since 1967 when the armed uprising began demanding jobs, land, and a greater share of the wealth for Indigenous communities. India has invested heavily in infrastructure development in remote areas to combat the rebellion, claiming to have limited the fighting to 45 districts in 2023 compared to 96 in 2010.
Over the years, deadly attacks on government forces by rebels have occurred, including a gun battle in 2021 that killed 22 police and paramilitaries, and a bomb attack in 2019 that killed 16 commandos in Maharashtra. The rebels have also ambushed police, destroyed government buildings, abducted officials, and stolen weapons to arm themselves.
The Maoist rebels have been active in central and northern states, inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. Despite efforts to quell the insurgency, the conflict has continued to pose a threat to security and stability in the region.
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