At least 13 Maoist rebels were killed in gun battles with security forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, a government minister said.
The clashes took place yesterday in two remote districts.
Paramilitary troops backed by police raided a village in Dantewada district, 520 kilometres south of Raipur, and shot dead ten rebels in a three-hour gun battle, Home Minister Ramvichar Netam said.
In a separate clash, northeast of Raipur, police killed three Maoists and seized several weapons.
Chhattisgarh is worst-affected of the 13 Indian states hit by the Maoist insurgency that began more than three decades ago to fight for the rights of poor peasants and landless labourers.
At least half of Chhattisgarh's 16 districts have Maoist guerrillas in them, and over 170 civilians have been killed in the state since January, according to official figures.