Andhra Pradesh police carried out a coordinated intelligence-led operation across five districts and arrested 50 CPI (Maoist) cadres, marking one of the most extensive crackdowns in recent years.
The operation followed an encounter at Maredumilli in Alluri Seetharam Raju district on November 18, where top Naxalite commander M Hidma and five others were killed.
Announcing the arrests at a press conference in Vijayawada, ADGP (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha said: “Following Hidma’s killing, we launched coordinated intelligence-driven operations across five districts and apprehended 50 CPI cadres.”
Crackdown Details
Police confirmed that the arrested individuals included special zonal committee members, divisional committee members, area committee members, and regular party members operating across the south Bastar-Dandakaranya region. Moreover, the crackdown spanned Krishna, Eluru, NTR, Kakinada, and Konaseema districts, including Vijayawada City.
Personnel from the State Intelligence Department, Special Investigation Branch, district police units, and the Vijayawada Commissionerate executed the synchronised raids in a silent and systematic manner.
Recoveries
During the searches, police seized 39 weapons, 302 rounds of ammunition, detonators, cordtex wire, communication devices, and ₹13 lakh in cash.
Wider Impact
Laddha explained that many cadres had fled from Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, and West Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh due to sustained security pressure, but police arrested them in Andhra Pradesh. Furthermore, he emphasised that three special zonal committee members and several divisional committee members were among those held, marking a significant leadership collapse within the Maoist structure.
As a result, the crackdown prevented Maoist reorganisation attempts and delivered a major blow to networks operating between Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
RELATED STORY: Seven Maoists Shot Dead in Andhra Pradesh Forests
