Top Maoist Commander Eliminated in Andhra Pradesh Encounter
In a significant blow to left-wing extremism in India, top Naxal commander Madvi Hidma was killed during an encounter with security forces in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday morning. The operation, which marks a major success for anti-Naxal forces, revealed that the most-wanted Maoist leader had been operating with critically low ammunition supplies.
The Final Showdown: Limited Ammunition and Recovery
Security officials confirmed that when Madvi Hidma was neutralized, he had only 35-40 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition remaining. The post-encounter search revealed that among these, a few rounds had been fired while 28 unspent rounds were recovered from the scene. The recovery also included five rounds of pistol ammunition and an empty revolver.
An official involved in the operation noted the significance of this finding: "We usually recover large quantities of ammunition during such operations involving top Maoist leaders, but not in this case. This indicates that even a top leader like Hidma could not get hold of enough ammunition to stay in the fight."
The encounter resulted in six casualties including Hidma, his wife, and four other Maoists. Among those eliminated were Madakam Raje, State Zonal Committee Member; Deve, who served as Hidma's personal guard; along with Lakmal, Malla, and Kamlu.
Intelligence-Led Operation and Recovery of Explosives
The successful operation was the result of carefully tracked intelligence inputs indicating increased Maoist activity along the AP-Chhattisgarh-Odisha border triangle. According to a statement from the office of Director General of Police, the exchange of fire occurred between 6:30 am and 7:00 am in Maredumilli Mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
The operation involved coordinated efforts between the anti-Naxal Greyhounds and Alluri Sitarama Raju district police. The security forces recovered substantial explosive materials from the encounter site, including:
- Electrical detonators
- 150 non-electrical detonators
- 25 metres of fuse wire
- Seven kit bags
Security forces have continued combing operations in surrounding areas to ensure complete sanitization and prevent further Maoist activity in the region.
Broader Implications and Regional Security
Tuesday's operation represents a significant development in the ongoing fight against Naxalism in southern India. Madvi Hidma had been a central figure in Maoist operations for over two decades, masterminding several attacks during his tenure as Central Committee Member of the South Bastar Battalion.
The encounter comes after a period of limited Maoist activity in Andhra Pradesh, with previous encounters occurring in April and June of this year. In the June 18 encounter, security forces had eliminated Gajarla Ravi, another Central Committee member on the National Investigation Agency's most wanted list, along with Aruna, wife of senior Maoist leader Chalapati alias Appa Rao.
Following Hidma's elimination, security forces in neighboring Telangana have intensified patrolling and combing operations along inter-state borders to prevent any retaliatory actions or attempts by Maoist cadres to regroup.
The successful operation against one of India's most wanted Naxal leaders demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-driven counter-insurgency operations and deals a significant blow to Maoist capabilities in the region.
