Indian special forces soldiers killed at least eight Maoist rebels in a dense jungle in central India on Saturday.
The shooting began early Saturday in forest areas in Chhattisgarh state, which is considered a rebel heartland.
Maoist rebels are also known as Naxalites.
They are a revolutionary communist movement active in India, influenced by the ideology of Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party .
The Naxalites have been insurgent since 1967. Over the decades, at least 10,000 people have died in the insurgency.
This year, Indian security forces have killed at least 287 people in clashes.