(CLO) At least 31 rebels and two Indian commandos were killed in a fierce gun battle in the jungles of central India on February 9, as security forces stepped up their campaign to suppress a decades-long rebellion.
Senior police officer Sundarraj P. said the clash took place while security forces were conducting a search operation in the deep forest area.
"Thirty-one militants and two security personnel were killed and two others were injured," he said. Police said the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations continued. "We have deployed additional troops to control the situation," he added.
Photo illustration: ANI
Security forces have seized a large cache of weapons from the militants, including rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. Bijapur district, where the gunfight took place, is considered one of the most insurgent-prone areas in India.
Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, have waged a decades-long insurgency for the rights of marginalized indigenous communities. They demand land redistribution, employment opportunities and a share of the region’s natural resources.
The movement began in the late 1960s and grew in strength in the early 2000s, penetrating deep into the poor rural areas of eastern and southern India.
Faced with the insurgency's expansion, the Indian government has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the "Red Corridor" - a territory spanning several states where Maoist forces are most active.
According to government figures, security forces have killed about 287 militants in the past year, mostly in Chhattisgarh. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said the operation was a "huge step forward" in efforts to build "an India free of Naxalites", adding that the government aimed to end the insurgency completely by 2026.
Although government forces are gaining the upper hand, the conflict continues to cause casualties. Just last month, a roadside bomb attack by militants killed at least nine Indian soldiers.
Maoist rebels still retain the ability to mount large-scale attacks, especially in jungle areas where they have the advantage of terrain and the support of a local population.
Ngoc Anh (according to SCMP, AFP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/an-do-it-nhat-31-phien-quan-va-hai-linh-biet-kich-thiet-mang-trong-cuoc-dau-sung-post333718.html
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