Most-wanted Maoist leader Hidma killed in encounter

A major blow has been dealt to the Maoists. Most-wanted Maoist leader Madvi Hidma (43) has been killed. It is believed that his wife was also killed along with him. The incident took place today during an exchange of fire between security forces and Maoists in the Andhra Pradesh–Telangana border region. In this encounter, Hidma, his wife, and four other Maoists were gunned down.

Hidma was one of the most dangerous Maoist commanders in India. He carried a bounty of over Rs 1 crore on his head. Notably, he was the only tribal leader from the Bastar region to be inducted into the CPI Maoist Central Committee. Born in 1981 in Sukma (then in Madhya Pradesh), Hidma rose through the ranks as a battalion commander in the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army before joining the central committee.

Hidma played a key role in several deadly attacks that shook the nation. The 2010 Dantewada attack, in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed, was carried out under his leadership. He was also the mastermind behind the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush, where 27 people, including senior Congress leaders, were killed. Similarly, he is believed to have planned the 2021 Sukma–Bijapur ambush that resulted in the deaths of 22 security personnel.

There have been several reports of Hidma’s death in the past as well. Even in today’s encounter, officials and Maoist groups are yet to formally confirm and announce his death.