Indian security forces killed at least 14 Maoist insurgents, including a prominent commander, on Tuesday, marking one of the most intense confrontations in recent times, according to India’s interior minister.
The interior ministry identified the slain commander as Jairam, also known as Chalpati, who had a bounty of USD 115,000 placed on him. In a bid to resolve the prolonged conflict, New Delhi has intensified its military operations. The recent clashes occurred shortly after the death of 12 Maoists on 16 January, also within the guerrillas’ stronghold in the forests of Chhattisgarh state.
Over the course of this decades-long insurgency, more than 10,000 individuals have lost their lives, as the rebels claim to be advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in India’s resource-abundant central regions.
In 2024, official statistics indicate that approximately 287 insurgents lost their lives. These insurgents, commonly referred to as Naxalites, derive their name from the district where their armed struggle commenced in 1967, drawing inspiration from the revolutionary leader Mao Zedong of China.
The Maoists are advocating for land, employment opportunities, and a portion of the region’s vast natural resources for the local populace. They have successfully penetrated several isolated communities in eastern and southern India, with the movement experiencing significant growth in both strength and membership until the early 2000s.
In response, New Delhi dispatched tens of thousands of soldiers to an area referred to as the “Red Corridor.” This conflict has also resulted in numerous lethal assaults on government personnel, including a recent roadside bombing that claimed the lives of at least nine Indian soldiers.
