At least 22 Maoist rebels were killed in two separate clashes with Indian security forces in Chhattisgarh state on Thursday, marking one of the deadliest confrontations in recent years.

An Indian paramilitary soldier also died during the skirmishes, which unfolded throughout the day, police confirmed.

Eighteen rebels were killed in Bijapur district, while four others died in a separate battle in the state’s south.

Security forces recovered arms and ammunition from both sites as searches continued.

The Maoist insurgency, known as the Naxalite rebellion, has lasted for decades, with rebels demanding land, jobs, and resource rights for marginalized communities.

The conflict has claimed more than 10,000 lives, with the government deploying heavy security forces in the “Red Corridor” to suppress the movement.

Interior Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance approach, pledging to crush the remaining rebels by March next year.

More than 80 Maoist fighters have been killed so far this year, following 287 deaths in 2024, mostly in Chhattisgarh, according to official data.