Maoist insurgency in India has suffered another major setback. Top Naxal leader Madvi Hidma, along with his wife and four other Maoists, was killed in an encounter. The operation took place on Tuesday morning in the Maredumilli area of Andhra Pradesh. Hidma carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and his death is being seen as a major blow to Maoist activities in the region.
According to government sources, the encounter began between 6:30 and 7 a.m. In the gunfight, Hidma, his wife, and four bodyguards from the South Bastar Battalion of the CPI (Maoist) were killed. Officials said that a total of six Maoists died in the operation carried out in the Alluri district. Security agencies launched the mission after receiving inputs about the Maoist movement along the Andhra Pradesh–Chhattisgarh–Odisha border.
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Where Hidma Was Killed?
Police confirmed that Madvi Hidma was killed near the tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The encounter took place in a dense forest area. The operation was conducted jointly by Greyhounds, the District Reserve Guard (DRG), and CRPF’s CoBRA units.
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Hidma’s Wives Also Killed in the Encounter
Hidma’s wife, Madvi Hema, and four other senior members of the banned CPI (Maoist) were also killed. Officials believe he had two wives, and both died in the exchange of fire. Security forces are still identifying the bodies recovered from the site.
Who Was Madvi Hidma?
Hidma, around 45 years old, was one of the most feared Maoist commanders in the country. He had a reward of over Rs 1 crore on his head Rs 45 lakh announced by the central government, Rs 25 lakh by Chhattisgarh, and additional rewards by other states. He was linked to several major attacks, including the 2010 Tadmetla massacre and the 2021 Sukma ambush in which 22 security personnel were killed.