Indian forces kill 14 Maoist rebels, including top commander

RAIPUR, India: Indian security forces shot dead at least 14 Maoist rebels, including a top commander, on Tuesday in what the interior minister said was one of the heaviest bouts of recent fighting.

The interior ministry said the commander killed was a leader known as Jairam or Chalpati, who had a $115,000 bounty on his head.New Delhi has stepped up efforts to end the decades-long conflict. Tuesday´s clashes follow the killing of 12 Maoists on January 16, also in the guerrillas´ heartlands in the forests of India´s Chhattisgarh state.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the decades-long insurgency waged by the rebels, who say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised people in India´s resource-rich central regions.

Around 287 rebels were killed in 2024, according to official figures.“Another mighty blow to Naxalism,” Interior Minister Amit Shah said in a statement, confirming that 14 rebels had been “neutralised”.

Shah, who has set a deadline of March 2026 to defeat the rebels, said that “Naxalism is breathing its last”.Police said reinforcements had been sent to the area.“Forces are still inside the forest,” said Vivekananda Sinha, head of Chhattisgarh´s anti-Maoist operation.