ALBAWABA - Indian commandos killed five Maoist militants in central India's deep woods, authorities said Tuesday, as the government intensifies its efforts to end the long-running violent struggle.
According to the Times of India newspaper, three of those murdered were women, and a commando wounded in the fighting had to be evacuated by helicopter while under fire.
"Five Naxalites were killed after they opened fire on security forces," police superintendent Neelotpal was quoted as saying by local media.
Over 10,000 people were killed in the decades-long insurgency fought by the Naxalite movement, which claims to be fighting for the rights of oppressed indigenous people in India's remote and resource-rich central region, AFP reported.
According to government estimates, the insurgency has significantly decreased in recent years, and security forces have killed roughly 200 insurgents this year. The fight occurred on Monday in Maharashtra, which is holding state elections next month.
In September, Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah ordered Maoist rebels to surrender or face an "all-out" attack, stating that the government was going to eliminate the Naxalite movement by early 2026.
The Naxalites, named for the area where their armed struggle began in 1967, were inspired by Mao Zedong, the Chinese revolutionary leader.
They fought for land, jobs, and a part of the region's vast natural riches for locals, making breakthroughs in a number of isolated towns across India's east and south.
