At least 22 Naxal rebels killed in gun battles in India

​​​​​​​By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - At least 22 Naxal rebels were killed in two gun battles with Indian security forces in the central state of Chhattisgarh, officials said Thursday.

The battles took place in the Bijapur and Kanker districts, where a security personnel was also killed.

“The (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi government is moving forward with a ruthless approach against Naxalites and is adopting a zero tolerance policy against those Naxalites who are not surrendering despite all the facilities ranging from surrender to inclusion,” Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on X.

“The country is going to be Naxal-free before 31 March next year,” he added, referring to the government's earlier claim that the insurgency will be squashed by March 2026.

The insurgent group draws inspiration from far-left radical communists, supportive of the Maoist political ideology.

The rebels have been fighting for more than three decades in eastern and central India for the rights of tribal people in the region.​​​​​​​