Andhra Pradesh police have eliminated Madvi Hidma, one of the most wanted Maoist leaders, in a forested encounter in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The operation, which unfolded near the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, also claimed the lives of his wife, Raje alias Rajakka, and four other Maoists.

Officials said the clash occurred in the Maredumilli forest between 6 am and 7 am. “In the exchange of fire, six Maoists were killed, including a top Maoist leader. A massive combing operation is currently underway,” stated Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta.

The operation was launched after intelligence agencies detected the movement of a significant Maoist group near the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar added, “For the past few weeks, Andhra Pradesh SIB/intelligence inputs have specifically indicated the movement of Maoists near the AP-Chhattisgarh-Odisha border and, based on those inputs, we operated and got this success.”

Hidma and His Past

Hidma, born in 1981 in Sukma, was the head of the PLGA Battalion No. 1 and the youngest member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee. Notably, he was the only tribal from Bastar to achieve this position. With a deep understanding of jungle warfare, Hidma masterminded several deadly attacks, including the 2010 Dantewada ambush that killed 76 CRPF personnel, the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre claiming 27 lives including senior Congress leaders, and the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur encounter, in which 22 security personnel died.

Carrying a bounty of Rs 50 lakh, Hidma was regarded as extremely dangerous by security forces due to his tactical expertise and experience in guerrilla operations. Following the encounter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the security teams, noting that India aims to be free from Maoist influence by March 31, 2026. Shah had also reportedly set a November 30 deadline for Hidma’s neutralisation as part of ongoing anti-Maoist efforts.

Hidma’s death comes just a week after his mother, Madvi Punji, publicly appealed to him to abandon violence and surrender, highlighting the possibility of rehabilitation. Punji had met Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma to convey her plea.

Major Setback for Maoists: PM Modi Comments

This encounter is considered a major setback for the Maoist insurgency, which has seen increasing pressure from security operations and a series of surrenders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently remarked on the progress, stating, “In the last 50-55 years, thousands were killed by Maoist terrorists. They would not allow schools or hospitals to be built, they would not let doctors enter clinics, and they would bomb institutions. Maoist terrorism was an injustice to the young people.”

Among the notable recent surrenders is Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupathi, who encouraged armed cadres to abandon violence and join the mainstream. “Active Maoists must leave the way of violence, surrender, and join the mainstream and work among people,” he said after his surrender on October 14.

Security forces continue their operations across Maoist-affected areas in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, where several senior leaders and cadres have surrendered or been neutralised this year. This latest operation underscores the ongoing push by authorities to dismantle the Maoist network and restore stability in the region.