Indian security forces have killed five Maoist rebels, including two women, during a clash in the Abujhmad forests of Chhattisgarh as part of ongoing efforts to end the decades-long insurgency in central India. Senior police officer P. Sunderraj confirmed the deaths on Sunday, adding that two officers were wounded in the operation, which also resulted in the seizure of rifles and ammunition.

The conflict between the Indian government and the Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, has claimed over 10,000 lives. The Naxalites, inspired by Mao Zedong, launched their movement in 1967 to demand land, jobs, and access to natural resources for marginalized indigenous communities.

This latest gun battle raises the 2024 death toll to around 200, marking one of the highest in recent years. The encounter took place near the borders of Kanker and Narayanpur districts.

Indian authorities have intensified operations against the Naxalites, with Interior Minister Amit Shah stating that the government aims to quash the rebellion by early 2026. The government has also invested millions of dollars in infrastructure and social programs to curb support for the insurgency, which, by 2023, had been confined to about 45 districts, down from 96 in 2010.

The ongoing clashes underscore the challenges India faces in bringing stability to resource-rich but remote and underdeveloped regions.