Madvi Hidma, one of India’s most dangerous and most wanted Maoist commanders, was killed in an early morning encounter with security forces in the forests of Maredumilli in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Police teams, acting on precise intelligence, entered the dense forest around dawn. A heavy exchange of fire broke out when Maoist fighters opened fire, leading to the deaths of six militants, including Hidma and his wife.
Hidma, who was around 51, was considered the most powerful leader in the Maoists’ Dandakaranya region. He grew up in the forests of Bastar in Chhattisgarh and slowly rose through the ranks due to his knowledge of the terrain, survival skills and loyalty to the organisation. Over time, he became the face of the Maoists’ military operations, planning attacks that caused massive casualties.
He was believed to be behind more than 25 major attacks. These include the 2010 Dantewada massacre in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed, the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack that targeted political leaders, the 2017 Sukma ambush, and the 2021 Bijapur encounter where many security personnel lost their lives. His operations were marked by meticulous planning and ruthless execution, making him one of the most feared insurgent leaders in the country.
Security forces had been trying to track him for years, but his ability to disappear into the forests made him extremely difficult to capture. His killing is being viewed as a major victory in the government’s long fight against Maoist insurgency.
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