ALBAWABA - A police officer told AFP that at least 18 members of Indian Maoist Naxalite rebel movement were killed Tuesday after clashing with security forces in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh.
"Eighteen Naxals have been killed in Kanker district, close to the state border. Three security personnel also received injuries, but they are walking" Bastar district police inspector-general Sundarraj Pattilingam told AFP.
"Three security personnel also received injuries, but they are walking," he added. According to police figures, over 70 Maoists have been killed in India this year, with the great majority occurring in Chhattisgarh.
India has deployed tens of thousands of security forces to combat Maoist insurgents throughout the insurgent-dominated "Red Corridor," which runs across central, southern, and eastern provinces but is now smaller in size.
