Indian security Forces eliminate 29 Maoist insurgents in Chhattisgarh

Security forces have reported the elimination of 29 Maoist rebels in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, just days before the upcoming elections.

The incident occurred in the Kanker area near Bastar, known for being a stronghold of the rebels.

According to the state police, this clash has resulted in the most significant number of Maoist casualties in recent years.

Chhattisgarh has been plagued by a persistent insurgency led by Maoists, who claim to be championing the cause of the underprivileged.

Residents of Bastar will cast their votes on Friday as the general election commences, while Kanker will have its turn on 26 April.

According to security forces, a clash occurred on Tuesday in Kankar following a tip-off regarding the presence of leaders from the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

During the search operation, a violent confrontation occurred, resulting in the recovery of 29 bodies of Maoist rebels and a significant amount of weapons, according to P Sundarraj, Inspector General of Police of Bastar.

According to the Border Security Force (BSF) of India, it is believed that two high-ranking individuals from the CPI (Maoist) were among the casualties.

Federal Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed his congratulations to the security personnel for the successful operation.

Mr Shah recently visited Chhattisgarh for an election campaign. He expressed his government’s strong commitment to liberating the nation from the Maoist rebels.

The Maoist insurgency originated in West Bengal state during the late 1960s and has subsequently expanded to encompass over a third of India’s 600 districts.

The rebels have gained control over significant portions of multiple states in a “red corridor” that spans from north-east to central India.

Significant military and law enforcement operations in recent years have successfully pushed the rebels back to their forest strongholds, resulting in a decrease in levels of violence.

However, conflicts between security forces and rebels continue to occur frequently, resulting in the loss of many lives on an annual basis.