Indian troops have killed 31 suspected Maoist rebels in a battle in the forest.

Photo: AFP

The fighting erupted on Friday when counterinsurgency troops, acting on intelligence reports, cornered nearly 50 suspected Maoist rebels in the Abhujmaad forest area along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts in Chhattisgarh state, according to state police Inspector General Pattilingam Sundarraj. The operation was initiated on Thursday, and the battle began the following day, lasting approximately nine hours. Sundarraj mentioned that search operations were still ongoing in the area, during which troops recovered various arms and ammunition, including automatic rifles. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties among the troops involved.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel

As of now, there has been no immediate statement from the rebel factions regarding the incident.

Indian soldiers have been engaged in combat against the Maoist rebels across several central and northern states since 1967, when the militants, commonly referred to as Naxalites, launched their struggle to demand more job opportunities, land, and a fair distribution of wealth derived from natural resources for the country’s impoverished indigenous communities. The insurgents draw inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. Over the years, neglect has led to the isolation of many local villagers, who endure a scarcity of employment, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities, making them susceptible to the influence of the rebels. The insurgents share the same tribal languages as many local residents and have pledged to fight for a better future, particularly in Chhattisgarh, one of India’s poorest states despite its abundant mineral wealth.

Authorities have reported that at least 171 militants have been killed in Chhattisgarh this year alone, making Friday’s confrontation the deadliest clash recorded thus far.

In April, government forces successfully killed at least 29 suspected Maoist rebels in Chhattisgarh, just three days before the commencement of India’s national elections.

The rebels have been involved in various violent activities, including ambushing police forces, destroying government offices, and abducting officials. They have also resorted to blowing up train tracks, attacking prisons to liberate their comrades, and stealing weapons from police and paramilitary warehouses to bolster their arsenal.

Oct. 5, 2024 12:42 p.m. 774

#MaoistRebels #IndianArmy #Chhattisgarh #CounterInsurgency #Naxalites #SecurityForces #India #ForestBattle #CivilConflict #TribalRights #Insurgency #AbhujmaadForest #NationalSecurity #HumanRights #Militancy #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #bestnewschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai