Indian Troops Kill Five Maoist Rebels in Ongoing Push against Insurgency

Indian security forces killed at least five Maoist guerillas in a firefight in the dense forests of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, as part of the latest offensive aimed at quelling the long-running Maoist insurgency. The rebels, who included three men and two women, were reportedly armed with rifles and a grenade launcher, according to police officials.

“The security forces have recovered five bodies of the Maoists,” said P. Sunderraj, police inspector general, confirming the incident. The operation comes amid a broader crackdown on the insurgency, which has claimed over 10,000 lives over several decades. The Maoists, or Naxalites, say they are fighting for the rights of marginalized indigenous people in India’s resource-rich central regions.

In a separate incident, a homemade landmine exploded in Bijapur district, injuring two policemen. The attack highlights the ongoing danger posed by the insurgency as government forces intensify their efforts to defeat the rebels.

According to official figures, 287 rebels were killed in 2024, while around 1,000 suspected Naxalites were arrested and 837 surrendered. India’s Interior Minister, Amit Shah, has set a deadline of March 2026 to end the Maoist insurgency.

The Naxalites, inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been waging a violent campaign since 1967, leading to widespread violence and instability in the central and eastern parts of India.