Eight Policemen, Driver Killed in Maoist Attack in India

The attack occurred when a police vehicle carrying the victims was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). This marks the latest in a series of attacks targeting security forces in the region, which has seen an uptick in violence in recent months. Clashes between the rebels and security forces have resulted in casualties on both sides.

Chhattisgarh, along with neighboring states in central and eastern India, has been plagued by a Maoist insurgency for decades. Although the areas under Maoist control have diminished over the years, the rebels continue to launch guerrilla-style offensives against government forces.

The Maoists, who adhere to a form of communism inspired by the ideology of Chinese leader Mao Zedong, claim to be fighting for the rights of impoverished farmers and landless laborers, particularly demanding greater control over land and minerals currently exploited by large corporations.