The attack in Chhattisgarh occurred as soldiers were returning from an anti-Maoist operation.
Photographs reveal a deep crater caused by the explosion.
Over 10,000 lives have been lost in the prolonged insurgency.
Naxalites draw inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader.
Raipur, India: Indian Maoist fighters detonated a roadside bomb on Monday, killing nine security personnel whose vehicle was thrown into the air, according to police reports.
Images shared by Indian media depicted a significant crater created by the blast.
The decades-long insurgency, spearheaded by rebels seeking rights for marginalized indigenous communities in India’s resource-rich central regions, has claimed more than 10,000 lives.
Government forces have intensified efforts to suppress the conflict, with official figures reporting the deaths of 287 rebels in 2024.
The recent attack in Chhattisgarh’s central region occurred while soldiers were returning from an anti-Maoist operation, during which four rebels and a police officer lost their lives.
“Eight security personnel and a driver were killed when their vehicle struck a landmine,” stated Vivekanand Sinha, the head of the state’s anti-Maoist operations.
The rebels, commonly known as Naxalites, derived their ideology from Mao Zedong, the Chinese revolutionary leader.
Approximately 1,000 suspected Naxalites were arrested, and 837 surrendered in 2024.
Amit Shah, India’s Interior Minister, warned the Maoist insurgents in September to either surrender or face an “all-out” offensive, with expectations of suppressing the insurgency by early 2026.
The movement saw a surge in strength until the early 2000s when New Delhi deployed tens of thousands of security forces to combat the rebels in a region referred to as the “Red Corridor.”
The insurgency has significantly diminished in recent years, with authorities allocating millions to local infrastructure and social programs to address the Naxalite influence.
