17 May 2017 | 11:48 PM UTC
India: 16 Maoist rebels killed in Chhattisgarh on May 16
16 Maoist rebels (Naxalites) killed in Chhattisgarh state on May 16 in skirmish with security forces
Event
A skirmish between suspected Maoist rebels (Naxalites) and security forces took place near Bijapur district in central Chhattisgarh state on Tuesday, May 16. Some 300 police and paramilitary troops had been tracking the Naxalite rebels; at least 16 Maoists were reportedly killed in the shootout.
Context
Maoist rebels killed at least 24 Indian soldiers in a remote area of Chhattisgarh state on April 24. According to a military source, around 300 rebels attacked paramilitary soldiers guarding road workers, shooting from hilltops.
Maoist rebels are believed to be in at least 20 Indian states, but are most active in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Orissa.
Advice
Individuals present in the affected regions are advised to avoid rural areas and to monitor the situation.
As a reminder, some Western governments advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the west of Jammu and Kashmir state and against all travel to the border region with Pakistan (direct vicinity of the Line of Control) due to the high threat of terrorism.
