Andhra Pradesh Security Forces Gun Down Madvi Hidma, Key Maoist Leader and “Face of Terrorism,” Along With 5 Others

Andhra Pradesh security forces have neutralised six Maoists, including Madvi Hidma, in an encounter that took place earlier today, said IG Bastar P. Sundarraj from Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

Following the encounter, security personnel recovered the bodies of all six Maoists, the IG told news agency ANI.

One of the Maoist neutralized during the encounter is Madvi Hidma who the IG said was a “a Central Committee member of the Maoists who was formerly the commander of a PLGA battalion and is known as a face of terrorism.”

“His body was also recovered in today's encounter,” the officer added.

The bodies of Hidma's wife and four other Maoists were also recovered, taking the total to six. A large quantity of AK-47 rifles and ammunition was seized from the site.

According to PTI, Madavi Hidma, a dreaded Maoists 'commander,' was killed by security forces 12 days before the November 30 deadline set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate the most wanted Naxalite, sources said on Tuesday.

Security forces killed the 44-year-old Naxal leader in the dense Pullagandi forests located at the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

"The Union home minister had set a deadline of March 31, 2026, for the eradication of the Maoist problem from the country. At a security review meeting, Shah also told the top security officials engaged in anti-Naxal operations to eliminate Hidma before November 30, and he was killed 12 days before this deadline," a source privy to the home minister's diktat.

Sources also said that the way the operations against the Naxals are underway, the Left-wing extremism is likely to be over ahead of the home minister's March deadline.

Born in Sukma in 1981, Hidma was the commander of a battalion of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and a member of the Maoist Central Committee.

He was believed to be the only tribal member from Bastar to be part of this top leadership group. His direct involvement was found in more than 26 major Naxal attacks, making him one of India's most feared insurgent leaders.

(written with inputs from PTI)

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