The Fall of Madvi Hidma: How India's Most Wanted Maoist Commander Was Finally Eliminated

Top Maoist leader Madvi Hidma was killed in an encounter with Andhra Pradesh police this morning.

Hyderabad:

Madvi Hidma, the notorious Maoist commander eliminated by Andhra Pradesh police in today's encounter, had long been an elusive shadow for security forces. For years, authorities struggled to track him down, hampered by the absence of recent photographs or reliable intelligence. His sophisticated security network consistently alerted him to approaching dangers, while his extensive information channels protected him from numerous security operations.

However, as intensified anti-Maoist campaigns forced many insurgents to surrender and retreat, Hidma and five companions were finally cornered and killed in a forest area at the tri-junction where Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana meet.

The Evolution of a Revolutionary

Born in 1981 in Puvarti village, Sukma (now in Chhattisgarh), Madvi Hidma, also called Deva or Hidmalu, completed education until Class 10 before joining the Maoist movement. Reports suggest his attraction to the rebel cause began when he witnessed Maoists constructing a village pond. The chronic underdevelopment of the Bastar region, including Sukma, significantly fueled the Maoist insurgency in the early 2000s.

Ramesh Pudiyami, known as Badaranna, a former Maoist who later surrendered and is considered Hidma's initial mentor, recalls meeting the young, enthusiastic Hidma who expressed his desire to join the movement. After working under Badaranna for two years, Hidma was promoted to lead a platoon.

Swift Advancement Through Leadership

Hidma progressed rapidly, eventually commanding a battalion of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army and becoming the youngest member inducted into the Central Committee, the CPI Maoist's supreme decision-making body. As the only tribal representative from Bastar on this committee, he held significant influence within the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee.

While his local connections proved advantageous, insiders attribute his meteoric rise primarily to his exceptional discipline.

According to Sundari, a former Maoist now serving with the anti-insurgency District Reserve Guard, Hidma maintained a rigorous daily routine, waking at 4 am to review news reports and stay informed. He was also known to be an avid reader.

Hidma enforced intensive physical training for his battalion with what some described as ruthless determination, understanding that physical fitness was crucial during encounters with security forces. He earned his battalion's respect by consistently leading from the front.

Sundari has revealed that while Hidma avoided all addictions, he particularly enjoyed beef, chicken, and tea. As a diabetic, his diet included mainly chapatis.

The Strategic Mastermind

The battalion under Hidma's command was renowned as the Maoists' most deadly combat unit. His involvement in approximately 26 Maoist attacks includes the devastating 2010 Dantewada massacre that killed 76 paramilitary personnel, the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush that eliminated 27 people including top Chhattisgarh Congress leaders, and the 2021 Sukma-Bijapur ambush that claimed 22 security personnel.

A jungle warfare specialist, Hidma evaded capture by maintaining an extensive security perimeter. Sundari, who previously served in Hidma's security detail, reveals that his protection exceeded that of state police chiefs in complexity.

His security contingent included commandos armed with sophisticated weapons. Avoiding village visits, Hidma relied on informants in settlements to monitor security force movements. The government had placed a bounty exceeding Rs 50 lakh on him.

The Downfall and Its Significance

This feared Maoist leader met his end during an intense firefight with Andhra Pradesh police in Maredumilli forest within Alluri Sitharamaraju district this morning. Five additional Maoists, including his wife Raje, were killed in the operation executed by Greyhounds, Andhra Pradesh's specialized anti-Maoist force.

Harish Kumar Gupta, Director General of Police for Andhra Pradesh, told NDTV that this represented a "monumental" achievement in nationwide anti-Maoist operations. "Hidma's elimination marks a crucial turning point in anti-Maoist efforts. It has removed the head of CPI (Maoist)'s most potent military wing," he stated. The senior officer added that Hidma had been instrumental in recruiting young tribals into the insurgency.

Hidma's death delivers a severe blow to the Maoist movement at a critical time when they are already weakened by the central government's security offensive and numerous surrenders. This development will likely further diminish the rebel organization and support governmental efforts to eliminate insurgent influence from affected regions.