Indian security forces have killed 16 Maoist rebel fighters, including a senior commander, in the eastern state of Jharkhand, as authorities intensify efforts to crush the long-running insurgency.

According to an international news agency, more than 10,000 people have died in the decades-old conflict waged by the guerrillas, who say they are fighting for the rights of marginalised Indigenous communities in mineral-rich regions of India.

The Indian government has launched an all-out campaign against the insurgents, also known as Naxalites after the village in the Himalayan foothills where the Maoist-inspired rebellion began nearly six decades ago and has pledged to end the insurgency by March 2026.

Since 2024, more than 500 Maoist rebels, including several senior leaders, have been killed, according to official figures.

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https://www.deshkalnews.com/world/17136