Indian police reported the killing of at least nine Maoist rebels in a gunfight on Tuesday, with security forces continuing their search in the forest for additional remains and weapons. This encounter marks another episode in India's protracted Maoist insurgency, which started in the 1960s and has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
The skirmish occurred in the Bailadila mountain range within the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Kamal Lochan Kashyap. He mentioned that authorities have retrieved automatic, semi-automatic, and other types of weapons from the scene. Kashyap confirmed that the bodies of nine rebels have been found, and the search for more remains and weapons in the forest is ongoing.
The government has mobilized tens of thousands of forces to combat the rebels in the insurgent-dominated region referred to as the 'Red Corridor,' which spans several central, southern, and eastern states. In a similar incident last month, a dozen rebels were killed in the Gadchiroli area of Chhattisgarh, a known Maoist stronghold in the mineral-rich region. India has allocated millions of dollars for infrastructure development and mineral extraction in these remote areas, which are predominantly inhabited by tribal communities. The government asserts that it has reduced the insurgency to 45 districts in 2023, a significant decrease from the 96 districts in 2010.
