At least 31 suspected Maoist insurgents and two police officials were killed in a major operation in India’s Chhattisgarh’s Indravati area on Sunday, marking the deadliest clash of the year, the CNN reported on Monday, citing authorities.
According to Inspector General Pattilingam Sundarraj, security forces launched a search operation based on intelligence reports of a large Maoist presence in the region. A gunbattle ensued, resulting in the deaths of 31 rebels and two police officers, with two other officers injured.
Security forces recovered arms and ammunition, including automatic rifles. The encounter follows two other recent clashes in the state. On January 23, 16 rebels were killed in Gariaband district, and on January 31, eight insurgents died in Bijapur district.
Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, have been engaged in an armed insurgency since 1967, demanding land and resources for marginalized communities. Despite efforts to curb the insurgency, news reports confirm that the rebels continue attacks on security forces and infrastructure, particularly in mineral-rich but economically underdeveloped regions like Chhattisgarh.
