Security forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh have announced the elimination of 29 Maoist rebels in a recent operation, just days ahead of the country’s scheduled polls.
The encounter occurred in the Kanker area near Bastar, a region known as a stronghold of the Maoist insurgents.
According to state police, this clash marks the highest number of Maoist casualties in recent memory.
Chhattisgarh has been grappling with a prolonged insurgency led by Maoists, who claim to be advocating for the rights of the impoverished.
Residents of Bastar are slated to cast their votes on the opening day of the general election, while those in Kanker will vote on April 26.
Security forces indicated that Tuesday’s confrontation ensued following intelligence regarding the presence of senior leaders from the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Kanker.
During the ensuing search operation, a firefight erupted between the forces and the rebels, resulting in the recovery of 29 bodies of Maoist insurgents along with a substantial cache of weaponry, as stated by P Sundarraj, Inspector General of Police of Bastar, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) reported that two prominent members of the CPI (Maoist) are believed to be among the deceased.
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah commended the security personnel for the success of the operation.
Mr. Shah, who recently visited Chhattisgarh for an election campaign, reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating the Maoist insurgency, terming it a scourge on the nation.
The Maoist insurgency, originating in West Bengal in the late 1960s, has since spread to over a third of India’s 600 districts.
The rebels maintain control over significant swathes of territory across several states, forming a “red corridor” spanning from the northeast to central India.
While major military and police initiatives in recent years have pushed the insurgents into remote forested areas, instances of violence persist, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Clashes between security forces and Maoist rebels remain commonplace, claiming numerous lives annually.
