PATNA: Maoist rebels killed at least seven Indian paramilitary soldiers by blowing up their armoured vehicle on Wednesday in central India, police said.

The insurgents detonated a roadside land mine near Malewara, a village in insurgency-wracked Chhattisgarh state, top police officer R.K. Sahu said. Other details were not available.

The area is not considered to be a rebel stronghold, but they apparently came from their forest hideout to target the Central Reserve Police Force soldiers.

The rebels have been fighting for more than three decades demanding a greater share of wealth from the region’s natural resources and more jobs for farmers and the poor. They often attack security forces and government officials accusing them of perpetuating inequalities.

They say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.

The rebels, who have been called India’s biggest internal security threat, operate in 20 of India’s 28 states and have thousands of fighters, according to India’s Home Ministry.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2016