Top Maoist Leader Madvi Hidma Neutralized in Police Encounter

On Tuesday morning, reports emerged about the death of Madvi Hidma, a prominent Maoist leader known for instilling fear in the so-called red belt region, during a police encounter. Hidma, a senior member of the Maoist central committee, was killed in a close-range confrontation. According to media sources, his wife and several loyal followers, who would act on his command, were also killed during the gunfire. This encounter is viewed as a significant step towards eradicating Maoism in India.

Encounter in Maredumilli
The clash between police and Maoists began this morning in Maredumilli, located in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The gunfire occurred between 6 AM and 7 AM. In this operation, six Maoists, including the top leader Hidma, were killed. A comprehensive search operation is currently underway. It is noteworthy that police had prior intelligence regarding Maoist activities in the border areas of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. Police Director General Harish Kumar Gupta is closely monitoring the situation regarding this encounter.

Who Was Hidma?
The Modi government is actively working towards the complete eradication of Naxalism by 2026. Hidma is believed to have masterminded at least 26 major attacks within the country, including the 2017 Sukma attack and the 2013 Jhiram Valley massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 27 individuals, including senior Congress leaders from Chhattisgarh. He was also involved in the 2010 Dantewada attack, where 76 CRPF personnel lost their lives, and the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur encounter, which claimed the lives of 22 security personnel.

Previously, IG Sundararaj had stated that he hopes to achieve the goal of making Chhattisgarh Naxal-free by March 31, 2026, noting that over 2,200 Naxalites have joined the mainstream in the past 20 months.

For several decades, left-wing extremism has posed a significant security challenge not only for Bastar and Chhattisgarh but for large parts of the country. The past few years have been decisive for security forces in the Bastar region. Over 450 Naxalite bodies have been recovered in the last two sessions. During this period, top Naxalite cadres like Basavaraju have been killed. In recent months, more than 300 Maoist cadres, including members of the central committee and Politburo, have decided to abandon violence and reintegrate into society.