Security Forces Neutralize Six Maoists in Maredumilli Forest; Hidma’s Death Hailed as Significant Breakthrough
VISAKHAPATNAM/MAREDUMILLI: In what is being hailed as a major setback to the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit, six Maoists, including dreaded senior leader and Central Committee member Madvi Hidma, were killed in an encounter with security forces today in the Maredumilli forest area of Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh.
Hidma’s wife, Raje (alias Rajakka), also a senior member of the Maoist group, was among those neutralized in the exchange of fire, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, November 18.
Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta confirmed the operation, stating that security personnel, including the elite anti-Maoist force Greyhounds, had launched extensive combing operations in the area starting at 6:00 a.m.
“The operation was taken up after receiving specific intelligence inputs on the Maoist movement along the border regions of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha,” DGP Gupta said. The group was reportedly attempting to cross into Andhra Pradesh from Chhattisgarh when they were intercepted.
Madvi Hidma, believed to be in his 40s and carrying a large cumulative bounty, was one of the most-wanted Maoist commanders and served as the chief of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion No. 1, the outfit’s deadliest strike unit. He was the youngest member of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and was allegedly the mastermind behind numerous deadly attacks on security forces over the last two decades.
Officials stated that the six bodies, along with arms and ammunition including AK-47 rifles, were recovered from the site. No security personnel were reported injured in the operation.
Security forces continue to monitor the region as search and combing operations remain in progress to track any remaining Maoists who may have escaped the encounter site.