In a significant blow to Left-Wing Extremism in Central India, top Maoist commander Barse Deva surrendered along with approximately 40 armed cadres in the neighbouring state of Telangana on Saturday. This development comes just one-and-a-half months after the killing of his comrade and close friend, the dreaded Madvi Hidma, in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh.
The End of a Formidable Partnership
Security officials have described this surrender as the effective wipeout of the PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) Battalion No. 1, long considered the most feared Maoist strike unit operating in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. Deva and Hidma were not merely fellow insurgents; they were childhood friends and contemporaries from the same village—Puvarti in Sukma district.
Both belonging to the Koya tribal community, Deva joined the Maoist ranks in 2003, influenced by Hidma. For nearly two decades, they operated as an inseparable duo, masterminding some of the region's deadliest attacks. Their partnership ended abruptly when Hidma was killed in an encounter on November 18, 2023.
A Mother's Plea and a Strategic Retreat
Interestingly, just days before Hidma's death, Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the home portfolio, had visited Puvarti. He met the mothers of both Deva and Hidma, who had publicly appealed to their sons to abandon violence and return to the mainstream. The village itself had been under Maoist dominance for nearly four decades until a permanent security camp was established there in February 2024.
Following Hidma's death, the spotlight turned intensely on Barse Deva. "Barse Deva along with his cadres had fled to neighbouring Telangana from Chhattisgarh," Deputy CM Sharma stated in Raipur. "We were also in talks for their surrender here, but they decided to lay down arms in Telangana, which is also a good thing."
Notorious Legacy and a Hefty Reward
At the time of his surrender, Barse Deva carried a cumulative reward of Rs 75 lakh on his head, announced by the states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). His history sheet details involvement in multiple lethal ambushes against security forces.
Officials state that Deva and Hidma together planned and executed major attacks, including:
- The Darbha Ghati attack on May 25, 2013: This ambush resulted in 27 deaths, including 10 security personnel.
- The April 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambush: This attack led to the death of 22 security personnel.
- He was also linked to the Jhiram Ghati ambush, which claimed the lives of former minister Mahendra Karma and senior Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla.
Simultaneous Offensive in Bastar
Coinciding with Deva's surrender, security forces launched a major offensive in the Bastar region on the same Saturday. In two separate encounters in Sukma and Bijapur districts, at least 14 Maoists were killed. This action marks the first major push of the year against Left-Wing Extremism.
This intensified operation comes against the backdrop of the Centre's deadline of March 31, 2026, to end the Maoist insurgency nationwide. For security forces, the immediate and biggest challenge is to clear South Bastar, the last major stronghold of the insurgents. The surrender of a top commander like Barse Deva, coupled with sustained military pressure, represents a critical step towards that goal.
