Indian security forces killed at least 23 Maoist rebels in a firefight on Friday, just days after the country's home minister warned the insurgents to surrender or face an "all-out" assault. Over 10,000 people have perished in the decades-long insurgency led by the Naxalite movement in India's resource-rich tribal regions. The insurgency has significantly diminished in recent years, and a security crackdown has claimed the lives of at least 190 rebels this year, according to government figures.

The gunfight occurred in a remote area of the central state of Chhattisgarh, the epicenter of the rebel movement, which asserts it is fighting for the rights of marginalized rural and tribal communities. Narayanpur district police superintendent Prabhat Kumar confirmed to AFP that 23 rebels had been killed, with the possibility of the toll reaching as high as 30. "One of our men sustained a minor injury," he added, noting that the wounded individual had been airlifted to safety.

The skirmish unfolded in the Abujhmad forest, a remote and sparsely populated region in southern Chhattisgarh. Kumar stated that the joint operation involving police and other security forces was still in progress. This clash is one of many this year as the Indian government intensifies its campaign against the remnants of a Maoist rebellion that began nearly 60 years ago. Home minister Amit Shah recently met with Chhattisgarh residents and warned the insurgents to surrender or face severe consequences. "Lay down your weapons," he declared. "If not, we will launch an all-out campaign and achieve success." Shah also projected that India expects to completely quash the Naxalite rebellion by early 2026.

India has mobilized tens of thousands of security personnel to combat the Maoists across the insurgent-dominated "Red Corridor," which spans central, southern, and eastern states but has significantly shrunk in size. The government has invested millions in infrastructure development in remote areas and claims to have restricted the insurgency to 45 districts in 2023, down from 96 in 2010. The conflict has witnessed several deadly attacks on government forces over the years. In 2021, 22 police and paramilitaries were killed in a gun battle with far-left guerrillas. Additionally, 16 commandos were killed in a bomb attack in Maharashtra in 2019, which was attributed to the Maoists.