Raipur: Indian forces killed 31 tribesmen in the violence-hit state of Chhattisgarh on Sunday during a military operation.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the operation was launched by Indian troops in the dense forests of Indravati National Park, where the forces claimed to have killed 31 tribesmen, who they labeled as Naxalites. In the fierce gunfight, two Indian soldiers also lost their lives, and two others were injured.

Tribal communities in various Indian states, including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, have been active for decades, calling for a free, independent state, seeking to free themselves from India’s perceived hegemony.

The Maoists, who are fighting for independence from India’s governance, have long accused the Indian forces of carrying out extrajudicial killings, citing over 300 deaths in encounters under the guise of anti-Naxalite operations in the past year alone.

The Maoist rebels, inspired by the communist ideology of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, have been engaged in an insurgency against the Indian government for decades. This ongoing conflict, primarily in central and eastern India, has resulted in casualties on both sides and has caused recurring violence.

This incident underscores a disturbing pattern in Chhattisgarh’s operations, where Adivasi peasants are often criminalized, stripped of their civil rights, and branded as enemies of the state. The rule of law is ignored, and extrajudicial killings are celebrated as victories. These practices, which are often linked to corporate interests, contribute to human rights violations, as the conflict over land continues.