Top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, one of the most wanted insurgent leaders in central India, was killed in an encounter with police on Tuesday in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharamaraju district, according to reports.
Hidma, born in 1981 in Sukma, was widely known for leading a battalion of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) since 1996. He later became the youngest member of the Central Committee—the highest decision-making body of the CPI (Maoist).
Over the years, Hidma was believed to have orchestrated at least 26 major attacks targeting security forces and civilians. He was also the prime suspect in the April 2021 ambush in Chhattisgarh, where 22 security personnel were killed. Authorities had announced a ₹50 lakh bounty for information leading to his capture. Reports also suggest that Hidma’s wife was killed during the encounter.
Separate Encounter in Sukma
In a related development, one Maoist was killed during an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Tuesday. The exchange of fire took place early in the morning on a forested hilltop.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sunderraj P told HT that the body of one Maoist has been recovered and the operation is ongoing. “Further details will be shared once the area is fully sanitised,” he said.
Security agencies continue intensified operations across Maoist-affected regions, focusing on dismantling networks and preventing future attacks.
