At least eight police officers and a driver were killed in a bomb blast in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Authorities have attributed the attack to Maoist guerrillas, who have a significant presence in the region.

Police in India confirmed on Monday that nine people had died in a recent attack, as reported by media outlets. While no armed group has claimed responsibility, authorities have suggested the Maoist insurgency, which is active in the region, as the likely perpetrator.

The bombing marks the latest in a series of sporadic attacks targeting security forces in Chhattisgarh state. It follows frequent gun battles between security personnel and insurgents. Images from the scene show a massive crater, several meters in diameter, created by the explosion, as well as debris from the vehicle scattered across the dirt road. The incident occurred in a densely forested area in Bijapur district.

Vivekanand Sinha, head of the state police's anti-Maoist operations, stated, "Eight security forces and a driver were killed today when the vehicle they were traveling in came in contact with a landmine." The vehicle was reportedly returning from an anti-insurgency operation, according to Sundarraj Pattilingam, the Inspector General of Police for Bastar district, who spoke to the Indian news agency ANI.

Chhattisgarh and neighboring states in central and eastern India have been grappling with a decades-long Maoist insurgency. Known locally as "Naxalites," the movement began in 1967 in the Bengali village of Naxalbari and seeks to bring about an agrarian revolution. Over the years, the area controlled by the insurgents has diminished significantly.

In recent years, the Indian government has intensified its efforts to combat the Maoists. In September, Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah issued a stern warning to the insurgents to surrender or face an "all-out" assault, expressing confidence that the insurgency would be crushed by early 2026.

The Maoists, active for over 50 years, have traditionally operated in the "red belt," spanning central and eastern India. In October 2024, Indian security forces engaged in a significant clash with the insurgents in Chhattisgarh, resulting in the deaths of around 30 Naxalites, marking the largest confrontation with the group that year.