On Sunday, government forces in central India carried out a significant operation against Maoist guerrillas, killing 31 rebels. This event marks one of the deadliest clashes in recent years against the Naxalite movement, which has been engaged in an insurgency for decades.
The operation took place in the Bijapur region of Chhattisgarh. Additionally, two police officers lost their lives in the violence. Police Chief Jitendra Kumar Yadav reported that authorities recovered several AK-47 rifles and other automatic weapons from the scene.
Amit Shah, India’s Home Minister, expressed a firm commitment to eradicating Naxalism to protect citizens from violence associated with this insurgency.
The Maoist movement started in eastern India during the 1960s and has since spread across central and southern regions of the country. The conflict reached its peak in 2010, resulting in the deaths of over 600 civilians and more than 250 security personnel. However, recent years have seen a decline in civilian deaths as government operations have constrained the insurgents’ activities. Analysts suggest that aging leaders and internal challenges are further weakening the movement.
According to the Home Ministry, the threat from left-wing extremism has significantly decreased. In 2023, deaths related to the insurgency were reported to be 86% lower than in 2010. The number of districts affected by the violence has also reduced from 126 to 38.
Experts, such as Niranjan Sahoo from the Observer Research Foundation, note that the Maoists are now struggling to recruit new members. Their operations have become limited to a few districts, particularly around the Abujhmad forest, as they continue to face significant territorial losses. Sahoo emphasizes that the Maoists are currently at their weakest point.
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Defense and Military Forces,Chhattisgarh (India),India
