#JustIn: Top Maoist Commander Madvi Hidma Killed in Encounter Near Tri-Junction, Say Sources

Security forces gunned down notorious Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, the architect of at least 26 deadly attacks on security personnel and civilians over the past two decades, in a fierce encounter near the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana on November 18, 2025. The operation, launched based on specific intelligence about Hidma's presence in a forested hideout in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, unfolded early Tuesday morning and involved joint teams from the Greyhounds, CRPF, and local police. Sources confirmed that Hidma's body was among at least six rebels recovered from the site, with his wife, Raje, alias Rajakka—also a key cadre—killed alongside him. The ongoing combing operation has yielded a cache of arms, including INSAS rifles and explosives, underscoring the scale of the Maoist group's preparations in the dense Abujhmad region, a longstanding red corridor bastion.

Born in 1981 in Sukma's Purvati village—then part of undivided Madhya Pradesh—Hidma, also known as Santosh or Hidmalu, emerged as a tribal face of the Maoist insurgency, rising swiftly through the ranks of the CPI (Maoist). By his mid-20s, he commanded Battalion No. 1 of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, overseeing operations in Sukma, Dantewada, and Bijapur. As the youngest and sole Bastar tribal on the party's Central Committee—the outfit's apex decision-making body—Hidma masterminded ambushes that claimed hundreds of lives, including the 2010 Dantewada attack killing 76 CRPF jawans, the 2013 Jhiram Ghati massacre of Congress leaders, and the 2017 Sukma assault on a road-opening party. His elusive tactics, blending guerrilla warfare with local recruitment, earned him a ₹50 lakh bounty, making him India's most-wanted Naxal after Basavaraj's elimination earlier in 2025.

The encounter marks a pivotal blow to the Maoist hierarchy, already reeling from over 400 cadre losses in Chhattisgarh alone since mid-2024, as intensified operations under Operation Prahar have encircled strongholds like the Karregutta hills. Hidma's death disrupts potential leadership transitions, following speculations in May 2025 that he could succeed the late Basavaraj as general secretary amid ageing central committee members' health woes. Andhra Pradesh Police Chief Harish Kumar echoed the sentiment, calling it a "game-changer" in eroding the group's command structure while emphasising that no security personnel were injured. Forensic teams are verifying identities through DNA and tattoos, with Hidma's distinctive tribal markings aiding confirmation.

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This success comes amid a broader crackdown, with Maoist influence waning in Andhra's shrinking red pockets after the 2018 merger of districts diluted their urban footholds. The tri-state border, riddled with hideouts and mineral-rich terrains exploited for extortion, has seen sporadic violence, but recent surrenders—over 150 in Telangana this year—signal internal fractures. Critics, however, urge addressing root causes like land rights and development deficits in Adivasi areas, as unchecked militarisation risks alienating locals who view Hidma as a folk hero resisting displacement.

As the operation continues into the afternoon, authorities anticipate more recoveries and potential arrests, with roadblocks sealing escape routes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who in 2023 dismissed false claims of Hidma's death as a "surgical strike failure", hailed the forces for their precision. For Bastar's beleaguered communities, long scarred by crossfire, Hidma's end offers tentative hope for peace, though experts warn splinter groups may seek vengeance, prolonging the insurgency's shadow over India's heartland.

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