A clash between Indian security forces and suspected Maoist rebels in the central state of Chhattisgarh has resulted in the deaths of at least 31 rebels after a nine-hour firefight. The operation took place in the Abujhmad forest and was based on intelligence gathered by the forces. The government forces have recovered weapons from the scene but reported no casualties on their side.
The Maoist rebels, known as Naxalites, have been involved in an armed uprising since 1967, demanding jobs, land, and a greater share of natural resource wealth for Indigenous communities. The Indian government has been working to combat the rebellion by investing in infrastructure development in remote regions and claims to have confined the fighting to 45 districts in 2023, down from 96 in 2010.
The conflict has seen deadly attacks on government forces over the years, including a 2021 gun battle that claimed the lives of 22 police and paramilitaries, and a 2019 bomb attack in which 16 commandos were killed. The rebels have engaged in various acts of violence, including ambushes, destruction of government offices, abductions, and theft of weapons. They have also targeted train tracks, prisons, and warehouses to arm themselves.
The Maoist insurgency remains a significant challenge for India, and security forces continue to work towards maintaining control in affected regions.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
