by
.webp)
International Desk, May 21, 2025: At least 30 people were killed in a fierce encounter between security forces and Maoist rebels in the dense forests of Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh, India, on Wednesday, May 21. According to local police, all those killed were members of Maoist insurgent groups.
Senior Chhattisgarh Police official Vivekananda Sinha stated that the operation was launched in a remote area of Narayanpur based on confidential intelligence about the presence of senior Maoist leaders. When security forces approached, the rebels opened fire, leading to a retaliatory response that escalated into a fierce gunbattle. Over 25 Maoists were killed at the site, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.
The Maoist insurgency, inspired by the ideology of Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, began in India in 1967. Operating primarily in the mineral-rich central regions, the rebels have been fighting for the rights of marginalized tribal communities against the Indian government. The insurgency peaked in the mid-2000s, when approximately 15,000-20,000 Maoist fighters controlled nearly one-third of the affected areas.
India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously warned Maoists to surrender or face intensified operations. In 2024, he announced that the government aims to suppress the Maoist insurgency by March 2026.
This clash is part of the Indian government’s ongoing efforts to address the Maoist issue in Chhattisgarh. Authorities are continuing investigations to ascertain the identities of the deceased and gather further details about the incident.
AI/MR
