NEW DELHI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least two Indian security personnel and seven armed rebels, locally called "Naxals", were killed in an encounter between the two sides in the country's central state of Chhattisgarh, a cop confirmed over the phone on Wednesday.
The encounter took place in the state's Bijapur-Dantewada area, when a team of security personnel was on an anti-Naxal operation, added the cop.
Claiming to be fighting for the rights of local tribesmen living in jungles, the Naxals mainly attack security personnel and government installations, demanding more resources and infrastructure for the locals. On the other hand, the federal government vowed to eliminate Naxals from the entire country by March 2026.
These armed rebels were mainly present in states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
According to media reports, around 270 Naxals, including top commanders and women, had been killed this year in Chhattisgarh state alone, which was often described as a hotbed of Naxals' activities. ■
