On February 9, Indian security forces killed 31 Maoists in Chhattisgarh, while two policemen lost their lives in the operation. According to an Al Jazeera report, this was the largest operation of the year. The police and paramilitary forces conducted the mission based on intelligence inputs. However, the Maoist rebels have not yet issued any statement. Maoist insurgents have been engaged in an armed struggle against the Indian government since 1967.