Dreaded Maoist commander Madvi Hidma killed in encounter at Chhattisgarh-Andhra border

Hidma, the second in command among the Maoist ranks, was among the key planners of several deadly attacks, including the 2010 Dantewada ambush that killed 74 CRPF personnel.

Maoist commander Madvi Hidma | By special arrangement

New Delhi: One of the last dreaded Maoist commanders, Madvi Hidma was killed in an encounter in the early hours of Tuesday, sources in the Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh police confirmed to ThePrint.

The massive hit occurred during the ongoing encounter with security forces in the border area between Alluri Sitarama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh and Sukma, Chhattisgarh. Security forces have recovered bodies of at least six Maoist cadres, including that of Hidma.

Hidma, the second in command among the Maoist ranks, was among the key planners of several deadly attacks against security personnel, including the 2010 Dantewada ambush that killed 74 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the sources said.

His encounter comes as a huge setback to the Communist Party of India (Maoist), battling severe infighting among its state units, amidst the killing of its leaders in encounters as well as increasing surrenders before the forces.

Hidma was the lone central committee member of the banned outfit from Dandakaranya region that includes Bastar in Chhattisgarh and had earned elevation due to his military acumen under the watch of the erstwhile party chief Basavaraju, the sources said.

This year, security forces have killed nine central committee members, including the outfit’s general secretary, Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

“A major development is emerging from a neighbouring area. While we await official confirmation, early indications point towards a historic milestone in India’s fight against Left-Wing Extremism,” Bastar Inspector General Sundarraj Patillingam said in a statement Tuesday without giving further details of the encounter.

However, officials in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh have confirmed Hidma’s status to ThePrint.

Earlier, the elimination of Basavaraju in May created a vertical split among the Maoist ranks. While one faction led by Mallujola Venugopal, the spokesperson and politburo member of the CPI (Maoist), favoured ceasefire and dialogues with the government, another headed by military strategist Thippiri Tirupati alias Devuji vowed to continue armed struggle.

In October, senior Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu Bhupati had surrendered before the Maharashtra Police in Gadchiroli followed by another central committee member Pulluri Prasad Rao alias Chandrann, who surrendered in Telangana.

(Edited by Tony Rai)