A major victory has been secured by Indian security forces with the neutralization of Madavi Hidma, a highly elusive and dangerous Naxal commander, during an encounter in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district. Hidma, a top leader within the CPI (Maoist) and head of the formidable PLGA Battalion-1, was killed along with his wife and four other cadres in a pre-dawn operation by the Greyhound forces. His death is poised to create a significant void in the Naxal hierarchy and operations.
Madavi Hidma, a native of Chhattisgarh, was a seasoned Maoist operative who had been active for years, rising through the ranks to become a member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee. He was renowned for his strategic prowess in guerrilla warfare and was directly linked to numerous deadly attacks that have plagued central and eastern India. His notoriety stemmed from orchestrating attacks like the 2010 Dantewada incident, which resulted in the deaths of 76 CRPF personnel, and the 2013 Darbha Valley massacre. A bounty exceeding Rs 1.45 crore highlighted his status as a top security threat.
The encounter occurred in a remote forest area near the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border after security forces acted on specific intelligence regarding Maoist movement. The ensuing gunfight resulted in the elimination of six key Maoists, including Hidma, his consort Raje alias Rajakka, and other important cadres like Chelluri Narayana and Tech Shankar. Law enforcement agencies have confirmed the operation’s success and are actively engaged in further combing operations to ensure complete security.
The elimination of Madavi Hidma is heralded as a critical breakthrough in the protracted war against Naxalism. His death is expected to cripple the operational capacity of the PLGA Battalion-1, disrupting their planning, communication, and execution of offensive actions. This achievement not only weakens the Naxal movement in terms of leadership but also offers security forces a strategic advantage, potentially unlocking vital intelligence and paving the way for more decisive actions against remaining insurgent groups.