Raipur, In a continuing escalation of conflict during the Indian parliamentary elections, Indian security forces have killed at least 12 Maoists in a gunfight in Chhattisgarh, marking the third major encounter in the region in recent weeks.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reported the incident occurred in Bijapur, where the forces engaged with rebels adhering to Maoist ideology, a form of communism inspired by the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. This violent clash comes shortly after another significant encounter on April 30, which resulted in the deaths of 29 Maoists and 10 others. Maoists have long been engaged in a guerrilla war against the government, seeking greater land ownership and mineral rights for India’s impoverished farmers and laborers, often opposing large mining corporations.

The conflict’s timing coincides with the conclusion of the state’s general election’s third phase on May 7, with the vote count scheduled for June 4. During a recent campaign visit to Chhattisgarh, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah vowed to eradicate the insurgency within three years if Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is re-elected.