Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Dec 4 : India has launched a major offensive codenamed ''Operation Green Hunt'' against Maoist rebels here on Thursday.

The assault "Green Hunt" was launched against insurgents in Chhattisgarh -- the epicentre of violence between Maoist fighters, security forces and pro-government militias since 2005.

Officials said there was least resistance from some of the Maoist strongholds, which could be a ploy.

"We are handling the ''Operation Green Hunt'' in a more decisive way. And as on today the operation is on in districts like Bijapur and Dantewada. According to the information that we have, the police are not facing any resistance in the interior areas of the Maoist strongholds. It maybe an operational tactics of Maoists; we are still discussing this issue with our officers," said S R P Killuri, Deputy Inspector General (Police).

Thousands have been killed during the Maoist insurgency, which began in the late 1960s, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist threat one of the gravest homegrown threats to India''s internal security.

The rebels claim they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers. (ANI)