Indian troops kill 12 Maiost rebels in central India clash

Indian security forces have killed at least 12 Maoist rebels in a firefight in central India, as the government intensifies its efforts to crush the long-running insurgency, police said.

The clash occurred on Thursday in the dense forests of Bijapur district, located in Chhattisgarh, the epicenter of the Maoist rebellion. The insurgents, who claim to be fighting for the rights of marginalized Indigenous communities, have waged a violent campaign for decades, resulting in over 10,000 deaths.

"We have confirmed the killing of 12 Maoists in a series of encounters with security forces," said Sundarraj P, a senior police official, speaking to AFP.

The recent operation is part of a broader crackdown that has led to the deaths of more than 200 rebels in the past year, mostly in Chhattisgarh, according to government figures.

India's Interior Minister Amit Shah has stated that the government aims to eliminate the insurgency by 2026, but the conflict remains deadly, with frequent attacks on government forces.

Earlier this month, a roadside bomb killed at least nine Indian soldiers, while a week later, clashes between security forces and rebels resulted in the deaths of five guerrillas. In another attack, two police officers were injured by a bomb blast.

The Maoist insurgency has claimed numerous lives over the years, including 22 police and paramilitary personnel in a 2021 gun battle. In 2019, the insurgents were blamed for a deadly bomb attack in Maharashtra that killed 16 commandos in the run-up to national elections.

As the conflict continues, both sides are bracing for further violence in one of India's most persistent and deadly insurgencies.